Wednesday, 31 May 2017

Smoke



I met a caterpillar once 
She says
Clutching at the air
He smoked a pipe 
Left me all confused
You are just like him
She wipes a sticky mass of hair from her face
We are agitated and bored
Lying still
Breathing
Chewing
Counting
Turning a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white
She props herself up 
As if shifting her weight will change time
And space
It is all smoke and mirrors
No place to begin 
No obvious end
It really is a curious affair
I don’t think you intend to confuse me
But this adventure is far too tedious to enjoy any more
Her words lacerate my skin
Of that she knows
I shut down my muscles
Close my eyes tight
How could I be without her 
Indeed, who would you be without me
She says triumphantly 
Inhaling
I breathe
Clutch at the air
Wish upon a thousand stars that Caterpillar was here. 
Posted by at
Labels:

34 comments:

  1. Old Egg31 May 2017 at 03:30

    What I liked about Caterpillar (and other people and creatures) illustrated in early Carrol's books was there frightening looks unlike modern children's books. Alice's wonderland is very much a nightmare and seems to indicate to children that life is not all that rosy Jae! (Sorry for the pun). However life is like that as we search for happiness however small. You seem to do this so well with your writing Jae.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:33

      Thank you Old Egg - and we like the pun ;)

      Delete
  2. Susan31 May 2017 at 04:16

    Whew, that rhyming ending got me gasping for breath! Those caterpillars are quite the charmers. "Turning a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white" seems so attractive at first but those two abstractions are hard as stone, as hard as the threat of being left alone. This is my new favorite of your poems. I'm embracing complexity as the air we breathe. Indeed, having an Alice is part of its joy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thotpurge31 May 2017 at 04:36

    Turning a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white.. that's my line of the day, no week or month! And I used the smoke and mirrors reference too!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:34

      Thanks Thotpurge.. I will visit your smoke and mirrors ;)

      Delete
  4. Keith's Ramblings31 May 2017 at 06:41

    Who would you be without eachother? This piece sums up your relationship perfectly Jae and Alice.

    Rosey strikes again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:35

      Thank you Keith - and look forward to meeting up with Rosey once again

      Delete
  5. Sumana Roy31 May 2017 at 07:17

    'a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white' perfect wordings for our times. Curious Alice lifts up a tedious soul and she triumphs. Nice really.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sherry Blue Sky31 May 2017 at 08:39

    I love the way this poem begins and ends with Caterpillar. Love the breathtaking ending, and felt some concern at the possibioity of Alice leaving. We all anticipate your poems, to see what she has to say. This is my fave of your poems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:35

      Thanks Sherry - I think Alice will be sticking around for a while yet

      Delete
  7. Sheilagh Lee31 May 2017 at 11:02

    a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white' is a good start if you can see them that way then you can then make them go away.

    ReplyDelete
  8. annell431 May 2017 at 11:05

    Perhaps Caterpillar is the wisest of all? Soon she will transform and be a butterfly, butterflies don't smoke silly, only if they are on fire, and then bring the water bucket, put out the smoke, let her fly away unsinged!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:36

      Tsk - you do make me smile..thanks Annell xo

      Delete
  9. Sanaa Rizvi31 May 2017 at 13:02

    'a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white' is such a brilliant image!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. hyperCRYPTICal31 May 2017 at 16:05

    I have read your words several time and how "Her words lacerate my skin" stands out.
    Relationships of any kind are complex things and I wonder of the relevance of Caterpillar...
    Brilliant deep write.
    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:37

      Thank you for your insightful comment hyper..

      Delete
  11. Anonymous31 May 2017 at 17:23

    Perfect, It starts and ends with the caterpillar. ...but in between...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Khaya Ronkainen31 May 2017 at 21:52

    How I love this line, "Turning a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white". It led me to believe, like in Alice's Adventures, the speaker will conquer worries. Excellent write!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 01:38

      Thank you for that belief Khaya - we will try our best

      Delete
  13. Marja1 June 2017 at 02:16

    "Turning a kaleidoscope of worries into black and white"
    Brillant line and you must love that caterpillar

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 02:23

      He is a curious creature (so says Alice) thank you Marja

      Delete
  14. Alice Audrey1 June 2017 at 07:30

    Maybe it's time to let Alice go. If go she will.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose1 June 2017 at 07:53

      I think you could be right thank you (other) Alice

      Delete
  15. Anonymous1 June 2017 at 18:21

    sharp story.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Magical Mystical Teacher2 June 2017 at 06:04

    Ah, Caterpillar. You come, you go, you change, you flow. And we who are left behind (or below), wonder what's next. We do, you know.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose2 June 2017 at 10:12

      Your comment is poetry in itself - thanks Magical ;)

      Delete
  17. rallentanda2 June 2017 at 20:17

    I remember that blue caterpillar puffing away. Like Lewis Carrol I don't think it was tobacco he was smoking:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jae Rose2 June 2017 at 22:22

      I think you are right! Thanks Rallentanda

      Delete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)