Friday, September 27, 2013

"A Yellow Flower, Pressed - 1575"

Yew trees from the UK - "google images"

A Yellow Flower, pressed - 1575 (great hall shown below)

Praise the Oh Lord...

like mist evaporates, I skirt away,
hymnal discarded, chants faintly heard
as I race beneath bowing Yews, until
I see you  through the panes

God of Mercy,

I sigh, your image magnificent,
fills the Great Hall, makes it look small.
I hear you laugh - contagious, I smile,
spy your hand upon hounds head -
recall last night's caress beneath
watchful bishop's painted gaze.

Oh Taste and See,

you pluck a grape, teeth graze its skin,
lick, lean back upon heavy mantel,
eyes wander toward hearth's rug
and I know you recall.

Ask of Me,

not much, for brave I will
another moonless night for echoes
to reverberate in this vast room,
promises captured, muffled by red velvet,
dawn's soft pastel light befalling
a sight of limbs and hair co-mingling.

God of Grace,

we prayed for courage, for victory
beneath arches, hands clasped,
my eyes drawn to not bible held,
but flickering candlelight along your jaw.
Plead for another night before you depart.
will recite, will cherish my knight's
yellow flower placed between breasts
now pressed within prayerbook,
finally able to pray, for

Blessed is the Man.

by Margaret Bednar, September 27, 2013

Image found HERE

Oh, this was a stretch for me but I wanted to try and create a story...  for the challenge I'm hosting over at "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Place".  I tried to take things from the room - the bible, the flowers, the candles and also the setting and use if for this piece.  Go and take a look , give it a try! 

22 comments:

Susan said...

Wow! You made this place live as one of its people gazes through its window as we gaze into the picture. I love the story she tells and the way you frame it in prayer, prayer that at one point participates in the scenario. Wow again!

Peggy said...

I almost chose this room as well and also tried to create a story. Good job here. What a fun prompt!

Vagabonde said...

I don’t know if you took that photo of those trees and if it is close to your home, but what a beautiful alley – I’d love to walk under those trees.

Dom said...

The trees look like a path I rode on down in Maryland...

Kathryn Dyche said...

. . . . and an amazing story you created too.

kaykuala said...

A grand rounding off of so many different elements. This is exhaustive treatment Marge! Great write!

Hank

Kay L. Davies said...

One of the most difficult periods, to my mind, for a 20th/21st century person to bring to life, but you've done a wonderful job of it, Margaret. Incorporating so many elements from the room into your story gives it life in any century.
K

Kerry O'Connor said...

I have often remarked at how you have a gift of bringing historical narrative to life in your poetry, and this is a fine example. I especially like the way you interspersed the lines of the prayer between the girl's musings, as if her desire cannot be contained by religious deference. This was a most enjoyable read.

Maude Lynn said...

I adore the way you structured this, Margaret. Sensuous and lovely.

izzy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marian said...

WOW. yes... wonderful, with a touch of danger, too. whoosh! fantastic, Margaret.

Ella said...

I want more! I agree sensual and tightly woven with enough loop holes to know the moth has more to tell!

More please ;D

Bravo!

hedgewitch said...

Your opening line was sheer genius, Margaret, and the closing one is excellent as well, not to mention the tale told in between. That room fascinated me as well..it sums up centuries.

21 Wits said...

Lovely words, and images as well.

Grace said...

I love the way you structured the words, prayer with the details ~ You made the room come alive ~

I will think about your challenge and link up by next week ~ Have a lovely weekend ~

Sumana Roy said...


wow i don't think i'll ever forget that 'watchful bishop's painted gaze.'........a wonderfully crafted poem.. :)

Susie Clevenger said...

This is simply beautiful Margaret. There is reverence and sensuality in it. It so fits the time period and feels like it is part of a novel.

Hannah said...

Lacing those prayerful lines within this well wrought story...I love the details you drew in from the image, too, excellent perspective on this, Margaret!! Thank you for the challenge!

Anonymous said...

Not sure you've read Wuthering Heights, the Bronte sisters or Jane Austen... they've intentional voices & styles that are enveloping in the mood of the characters, space, era, surrounding ~ you've recreated the classical writing here~ Brilliant always dear! Faithfully Debbie

Justine said...

when I saw that first photography I thought it looked very english! lovely words here. Thank you so much for your lovely kind words on my blog I really appreciated your thoughts.

Lolamouse said...

Wow. You really made all the small details in this photo spring to life! Great story.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Steamy! I think you pulled off an engaging story here. I love how "flickering candlelight along your jaw" is just so subtly sexy!