On Having Slept One Hundred Years

 

 

Waking,

Sleeping Beauty

lifted a wrinkled hand
to her white hair.

 

Reviews

[Gandré]

I interpret this different than the other reviewers. This is an aera of forever young generation. It is strange, when older people look in their face 20 y. YOunger but hands and other parts say it is much older person. Who are they ? I think a balanced person is accepting getting older with dignity. This poem is sussessful because it hits the Zeitgeist or the nail on the top. I loved it.

[Sel Whiteley]

This is very strong and haunting. The idea of sleeping beauty waking to find she's turned old is a shocking rewrite and works well.

[Ken Simm.]

There is a clarity and a multilayering that belies the number of words. To quote the immortal Who, 'Hope I die before I get old'.

[Maria G.]

I liked this different take on fairy tale's, sleeping beauty wakes to be find she's old, yet love does not depend on youth.

[W.k.kortas]

I love the idea, but, for me, it's a bit too open-ended. I'm guessing--only guessing, mind you--that the hand-to-the-hair move is one you'd expect from a debutante--but is it through simple habit? Acceptance? Indifference? Ignorant bliss? I think there's just too much left to the reader here. It's a great concept to build on, and the opening image is just marvelous--but I think you've quit the race before the finish line.

[Kevin Connolly]

Aww, poor Sleeping Beauty. I bet she wanted to kill herself two seconds later when she discovered the varicose veins and the stubble on her chins.
Trust you to think of this... ruining a fairytale for millions, ha ha.
Inventive stuff, Vanessa.

[Gandré]

I interpret this different than the other reviewers. This is an aera of forever young generation. This poem is sussessful because it hits the nail on the top. I loved it.

[Poeticpiers]

Brilliant Time does not pass without leaving its mark but being old does not preclude falling in love Love pays little attention to looks or age

Nice example of what I call terse verse

[Cdnsurfer]

OMG, Vanessa, you pack a wallop in this punch. Yes, so true, to wait too long for prince charming and to watch life pass, until the whole world passes her by. Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Rob

[Donald Meikle]

A different outlook on fairytale everafters.
Will she end up in Strawberry Fields with
my rocking dancer?