The RetroLounge Daily Poem Thread (Sun 7/20/2008)

[RetroLounge]

Buoy

And so you came to realize that a married man
is like a drowning victim, when you find him

drenched, adrift and unhappy in the vast ocean
of his marriage. And you are always the first

to spot him, a floating speck on the horizon,
flapping his arms for rescue, desperate mouth

ringing an o above the rolling crests and waves.
You on the high dry deck of the cruise ship

in your espadrilles and crisp white shorts,
aren't you the beacon, aren't you the life preserver.

And when you jump into the sea salt foam,
if only for a refreshing swim, you understand

that he will seize upon you, strong buoyant
swimmer that you are, grab your shoulders,

pull your head under with his weight, so dense
in the water. And down among the reefs

and coral, with your new copper-coin eyes,
you will see then how he rides on the shoulders

of his water-breathing sea horse wife,
and his mermaid mistresses, those water nymph

former lovers, and whole tag-team pyramid
of three-breasted women who have tried

over the years to save him. Even then,
next time, when you see another one

go under, does it give you pause,
does it stop you from jumping in—

no, not once, not ever.

Debra Marquart

***********

:hi:

RL

[RetroLounge]

1. Poem didn't copy correctly...

Just put the full version in...

That'll make it easier to read...

RL

[zingaro]

2. I am not a first wife.

I am not a first love.
My espadrilles are the color of seaweed.

I am the water-breathing sea horse wife,
familiar with the vast and unhappy ocean.
I know all about mermaid mistresses
And trying to save a drowning man.

I know why the ocean is salty.
I will not jump in again -

no, not once, not ever.

:hi:

(Look! A comment! I liked this one, in case you couldn't tell. :) )

[RetroLounge]

4. I could tell!

And not just a comment, a poetic comment!

thanks!

:hi:

RL

[Chan790]

3. Hmm...

I like it, but I think I might understand it better if I'd ever been married or could ever see myself married.

Actually, this sounds like my dating life. I keep drowning and I keep jumping back in.

[RetroLounge]

5. "I keep drowning and I keep jumping back in."

Ah, I know that routine very well...

:hi:

RL

[BlueIris]

6. Ouch. nt

[RetroLounge]

9. Yes. A little ouch here...

:hi:

RL

[Ysabel]

7. i like it and zingaro's response as well...

- good morning... :)

[RetroLounge]

8. Good Morning...

:hi:

RL

[Phentex]

10. My married friend chased a married man...

she left 4 kids to be with him. He left his wife to be with her. Then she found out he had abandoned a child with another woman (only found out when she sued for child support.)

Not quite a year later, he seems distant from her. Doesn't want anything to do with her kids. Travels a lot for work.

I'm sure he's out to sea again.

----


Good one, Retro!


edited to add: He's got bad credit, too. meow.

[RetroLounge]

11. "He's got bad credit, too. meow."

:rofl:

:hi:

Thanks for dropping in...

RL

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. My dear Retro!

I just realized that I'd not done my daily drive-by comments on your poetry thread!

And I love this one!

The imagery is perfect...

I can see the water, and all those sea-creatures so vividly!

Great use of metaphors too...

Thanks!

:hi:

[RetroLounge]

15. ...

:hi:

RL

[From The Ashes]

13. Interesting...

...having been the mermaid wife, strengthens my resolve to never fish in someone else's pond.

[RetroLounge]

14. Exactly...

:hug:

RL