Jealous Jack

Jealous Jack

A Poem by Phibby Venable

Jack
 
Morning, and a chandelier of snow hangs heavy
over the tin of Jack's barn.
He leans into the doorway, watching his house.
From here, he can see the chimney spew
the gray enthusiasm of a fresh fire.
Inside, she is pressing double handed
into the white bowl on the table.
Her hands squeeze,
knead and press,
into the soft dough.
He imagines it is the same softness
as his fist feels on her face
His hands squeeze,
her hands press,
as useless as butterflies
against his chest
He can see the frailness of her bent profile
and for a moment he longs
to touch her fragility
But in another moment he is angry
It is so like her to expose
herself in the window
He believes she cannot be happy
He believes she is lusting for other men
He believes she made him slice
the once perfect arch of brow
above her once trusting eyes.
 
 

© 2008 Phibby Venable


My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register




Reviews

i completly agree with W k Kortas great poem

Posted 15 Years Ago


It is, quite frankly, difficult to decide where to begin to discuss the wonders of the craftsmanship in this piece. The images themselves--"gray enthusiasm of a fresh fire", "useless as butterflies"-- are wondrously inventive. The allusions to softness and frailty, made in connections you would not normally associate those concepts, are marvelous. The subtle, almost off-hand way the title character sloughs off his culpability in his wife's abuse is simply genius. As I have said before-- and will say until my expiration date-- if there is anyone producing finer poetry than this, I dare them to show it to me.

Posted 15 Years Ago


the poem is not only what it is, it's about the poet, what the poet knows, how that mind reaches into the possibilities of words to bring to focus a moment of clarity, to inform, to teach, to surprise, and you are the very mistress herself...ed

Posted 15 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Request Read Request
Add to Library My Library
Subscribe Subscribe


Stats

326 Views
3 Reviews
Rating
Shelved in 1 Library
Added on December 12, 2008

Author

Phibby Venable
Phibby Venable

abingdon, VA



About
http://youtu.be/25XE-BHGvWI http://youtu.be/B2klgDKMUq0 I live in the mountains of Southwest Virginia. Although my passion is poetry, I recently published a novel called, Women of the Round Tabl.. more..

Writing

Related Writing

People who liked this story also liked..