Piece of Work
(for R)
You would love
the sound,
so French,
and you, so
urbane, so
je ne sais quois...
I can see you,
lips a coral megaphone
against your small white teeth,
"Pastiche."
Pull the last syllable
like strung pearls.
Look it up,
you think it's you,
formed, as you love to say
from disparate sources.
Your parents
in their snarl and tangle
create,
reproduction
at its finest.
Standing as you do
inside the frame,
you count each stroke
a master,
adjust the light
just so,
the better to be seen.
Standing with the crowd,
I see pastiche.
Burlesque, mish-mosh,
mockery, send up,
cartoon. Take off,
a sham,
and you, my dear,
on your turquoise heels,
you wear your patchwork
like a queen.
Location:Piece of Work
Karen you see pastiche I see phantasmagoria.
ReplyDeleteIn reality, that's probably a better description, Mark!
DeleteI love this. It is a fine piece of poetry, with a firm hold on content while allowing the reader leeway of imagination. I was totally in the frame you created up to the last two amazing lines.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kerry. I almost didn't post it; it feels that uncharitable. It's possibly the meanest thing I've written (but it's oh, so true)!
DeleteWow. Such spit! Such polish! We are all of a pastiche, but rarely this beautifully parsed out. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan, and I think you're right; we are all of a pastiche, but hopefully, some of us are not such as are seen from funhouse mirrors. That was the image that kept running through my mind as I thought of this particular subject.
DeleteThis is really lovely. So many beautiful phrasings. I like the ending.........'You wear your patchwork like a queen.'
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary, and she does!
Deletesuch self-indulgence, argh. i like the above "phantasmagoria" comment. indeed.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! Thanks, Marion! I couldn't agree more...self-indulgent and self-absorbed.
DeleteSplendid writing, Karen.
ReplyDeleteK
Pastiche and Hodgepodge to the 'nth' degree ~ love this!
ReplyDeleteExquisite and elegant, specially the last lines ~ Beautiful work ~
ReplyDeleteSounds like a French chanson. I can hear Patachou sing it.
DeleteMusical and visual at the same time.
I'd like to meet your patchwork queen: we have things in common!
ReplyDeleteI love your patchwork queen...It is sound and color. Beautiful!
ReplyDelete