Remains

all women have secrets --

little treasures hidden in boxes

decorated with dream-silk

and - perhaps - a ribbon of guilt

 

what we have become

is not always who we are,

and even eyes steeped in starlight

can lie when necessity demands

 

all women have secrets --

mine are scattered somewhere

along the shores of Mar del Plata,

given to the west wind of the Mohave,

lost along the sea cliffs of Kalaupapa

 

and there they will remain,

beyond the impressions I have made

with sensible feet and idealist hands

Reviews

[Pryde Foltz]

A poem of cynicism with metaphors so lovely as to make one a believer. Dreams do run dry some times as dry as the Mojave Desert but with those idealist hands you weave some beautiful new ones.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Aaww...thank you, Pryde!

[Astro]

I sense a world inside the mind where the geography is made up of the places in your poem, where peace is strength and secrets are safe because they are in a place that no one would ever want to leave. For someone to ever reach this place they would have to know you as well as you know yourself and if they did there would be no secrets to tell, only the wind and the waves of an individual landscape. I know that this piece can also be read like something being set free and the act of abandoning them to oblivion as you press on unfettered but my initial feel seemed more beautiful as a thought, like 'silk and ribbons'. Nicely penned.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

I'm glad that you enjoyed this one, my friend :)

[Rita L. Sev]

Having traveled very little, all of my secrets are on a shelf in the closet...

I love that last stanza - sensible feet and idealistic hands - these are the tools of day by day, but the secrets are why we bother...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Rita :)

[Clara]

The secrets we have... I coudn't agree more.
Women are incredibly strong, we hold everything together even when we feel like we're falling apart.

This was a wistful and reflective piece. I see the travelling in your mind, and the places you described show how well you encompass knowledge and translate it. Well-penned, my friend.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Lola!

[SyberRose]

I love this Sarah...the winds and the cliffs and the desert...much more exotic then mine ha...mine are just in well never mind ha...i love reading every ones answers...and laughed at Angis comment..Enjoyed...:)

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oh, thank you so much, Rose. I think we all have these scraps of ourselves scattered across the earth, you know...that is what makes us "us" :)

[Angi]

Sarah, you creep me out, sometimes! Seriously. It is like you have a little peephole carved into me. I have the little treasures wrapped in dream-silk and I do have a few things tied with ribbons of guilt. I have never been to the Mohave, mine are scattered on the Gulf Coast of Florida and there may be a few leavings sprinkled along the Dixie Highway, too. Wonderfully done poem, girl. Angi~

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oooohhh...Dixie Highway, that would be a great image for a poem like this! Though, unfortunately, I've never been :( Thank you so much, I'm humbled you connect so much with my work!

[K. Louis]

You and I, share scattered secrets across the globe! There are great things to be learned in all things foreign. Love that last stanza...

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much...perhaps some of our secrets have met on a gust of wind on some foriegn shore and made friends. Who know, it could happen...

[K. Louis]

oui, c'est possible! :)

[s y e]

"all women have secrets --
little treasures hidden in boxes
decorated with dream-silk
and - perhaps - a ribbon of guilt"

-- We do have secrets but most of us make sure they are buried underground. I loved the structure and wording. It's great as always!

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Noodle, you are so kind...thank you. Made my night!

[Dean]

echoing the review below.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much, Dean :) You can echo anytime!

[Anand Sehgal]

mine are scattered somewhere
along the shores of Mar del Plata,
given to the west wind of the Mohave,
lost along the sea cliffs of Kalaupapa

and there they will remain,


you're genius . Loved it thoroughly.

We all have a past with a stripe somewhere.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Thank you so much...humbled...