Wednesday, August 15, 2012

"Casanova's Game" for Friday Flash 55, Poetic Asides Wednesday Poetry Prompt #188, & Poetry Jam

Image courtesy of Google Images
Casanova's Game

He pledged devotion, deep red
as my father's Crape myrtle blossoms.

I believed

in passion green, succulent,
burgeoning, ripening  ...
ravishing beneath Charleston's 
starry midnight sky.

I heeded not

old matrons' warnings
of wooing arms, bewitching lips,
of whispered promises
like Lagerstroemia's fruit,

blackening, drying, splitting

at the end of an expectant
debutante's St. Cecilia season.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, August 15, 2012

Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Lagerstroemia is the scientific classification (Genus) for the Crape myrtle 

This is for Robert Lee Brewer's Poetic Asides,  Wednesday Poetry Prompts #188 - Prompt Challenge "change of plans".

This is linked to this week's challenge over at Poetry Jam:  Games

Also linked with Friday Flash 55 (Thursday after 8pm).  

18 comments:

Jennifer Wagner said...

Love this. Gorgeous imagery.

I especially like:

heeded not

old matrons' warnings
of wooing arms, bewitching lips,
of whispered promises
like Lagerstroemia's fruit,


really enjoyed this read, thanks!

Brian Miller said...

sometimes perhaps the wisdom of our elders is not so bad...but then again in love do we ever listen to anyone but our heart...ha...

Daydreamertoo said...

Very sensual. Loved the imagery.
Do we ever listen to our elders?
RYN: I cannot imagine the benefit of being taught how to line dance. Talk about crazy. LOL

Mary said...

Enjoyed this...especially liked these lines:


"I believed

in passion green, succulent,
burgeoning, ripening ...
ravishing beneath Charleston's
starry midnight sky."

izzy said...

Good reds are invaluable! ( lips are good too) really enjoyed the dried 'fruit' at the end- I hated all those formal balls etc. Thanks!

JANU said...

Wow! this is really cool. Lovely words and description.

Susan said...

"blackening, drying, splitting"

We often find that the lessons were there lurking in Natural things and waiting for us to see them. I learn some from the elders but mostly from trusting and error. And romance was sold to girls--I don't know if it still is, but then it was in all the fairy tales and movies etc.

So that's why I love the structure of this poem as it tells the story of the facades and the truth as a young girl learns them, and often actually games better after she is enlightened. Beautiful images from one who sees.

Helen said...

Beware the Casanova! My mother warned me ~ I couldn't hear her, I imagine most young women don't. It's difficult when fantasy clouds judgement. Nice writing, Ms. Margaret!

Mary B. Mansfield said...

I don't think the Casanovas of the world would be quite as devastating to a young woman's heart if they weren't so charming and persuasive. A gorgeous poem, Margaret!

G-Man said...

Margaret Bednar...?
Can I have your autograph?
So beautifully poetic you are!
Fantastic Flash 55
I say it every week, how lucky we are to have you in our little circle of blogger friends.
Thanks...Have a Kick Ass Week End

Alice Audrey said...

Yeah, you can't trust that Crape myrtle at all.

Scarlet said...

Such games these men play during the debutante season ~ Have a good Friday~

Anonymous said...

ah... how those bewitching lips can make one turn a deaf ear to those old matron's warnings....

hope said...

And being raised in the south, I can just HEAR those matronly tongues wagging while passing judgement. ;)

Unknown said...

You wrote such a fantastic poem all in just 55! I love your poetry and so so true, what you wrote!
Mine is here
Have you a ROCKING WEEKEND!!!
hugs
shakira

hedgewitch said...

Men(Boys.) Youth(Girls.) Fill in the blanks, and you get the bittersweet memories. I love Crape Myrtles--never seen a shade of red that pure--they usually have some blue in them. They are survivors of everything but extreme cold, so the metaphor I think works nicely on that level too, as well as the fruit. We planted two more this year, and even with the heat and drought, and a really amazingly intense aphid infestation, they have grown and are blooming like crazy. Thanks for the trip to your garden of memories, Margaret.

Peggy said...

Nice descriptions. I love crape myrtle--so intense.

PattiKen said...

I love how "southern" this is, how Charleston. I spent some time there as a preteen, and longed to be a part of the "scene." I'm thinking I was lucky I got out in time.