Thursday, December 19, 2013

Amour

The Ice Cutters, 1911 Natalia Goncharova
Amour

When your name
trembles upon my lips -
spikes a fever within,

I treat it with Hennessy -
an elixir that burns,

numbs my heart frigid
for a night.

Perhaps a second dose
as you rarely stay 'till morn.

An iced heart feels no pain.

Heat and ice -
neither a fine bedfellow make

…yet I'm totally addicted.

by Margaret Bednar, December 19, 2013

This is for "The Mag #198" - a selected weekly featured image to inspire poetry or short prose.  I started out writing something totally different - I think the only word I saved from that first attempt is frigid.  I think we have to say my poem is loosely based on the above image :)

Also linked with "Friday Flash 55"- a story (or poem) in exactly 55 words.



20 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

'numbs my heart frigid for a night' is my favorite line.

Fireblossom said...

Oh just get over it!

runzzzzzzzzz

Actually, I really like this!

Mary said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mary said...

Ha -- neither heat nor ice make a fine bed-fellow, though in winter admittedly I would prefer heat. Smiles.

Thanks for your comment at my blog, Margaret. I do like your tradition. It makes sense to me & also honors the spirit of the season!

Margaret said...

Ha ha, Fireblossom. I actually wrote fiction this week - as I would never put up with such a drivel of a man…

Anonymous said...

A relationship like that must rather be avoided. Interesting write.
That addicting aspect gives it quite a sensual tone.
-HA

Anonymous said...

I love it! Glad I'm not the only one that wrote a non-Christmas poem. :-)

21 Wits said...

Totally addicted evermore!

TALON said...

Loved this, Margaret. Sometimes we need a little something to dull the pain. Ice cutting - just typing that makes me shiver!

G-Man said...

As a child, my Aunt Mary came to live with us. She was born in 1884 and lived in Alpena. She often told of a story that I'll never forget. It seems that some ice cutters overloaded the ice wagon and it broke through the ice dragging the horses into the frigid water. She said that she would never forget the horrific sounds those poor horses made. ( how's that for an uplifting tale?)
Loved your 55
Hennessy does burn doesn't it?
You Rock The World Margaret
Have a 'Laid Back' Kick Ass Week-End
Your loyal friend... Galen

Alice Audrey said...

Sounds like love to me. Great 55.

Jeanne said...

image and your poem both lovely!

Gabriella said...

'An iced heart feels no pain' - powerful line! Hennessy probably helps, until it no longer does and one is left with feelings that are even more acute.

Kerry O'Connor said...

Such an interesting juxtaposition between the ice heart and the fever within. Yours is a very original interpretation of the painting.

hedgewitch said...

Fire and ice is a bad combination for both--fire melts ice and the resultant goopy slush puts out fire, if you happen to be playing a rock/paper/scissors kind of analogy game. This is very effective, short and sharp, Margaret. Happy holidays to you and yours.

Amelia said...

Love it! It reminds me of a poem I wrote in college that compared a kiss to a shot of whiskey.

Helen said...

Two-fer ... and a grand one!

Anonymous said...

I know its fiction but you bring real passion here. A really interesting take on the painting and a wonderful painting.

Anonymous said...

Heat, then ice, a de-flametory procedure for the muscle ! Hhmmm, that's very sensuous ! :) Faithfully Debbie

Ginnie Hart said...

"Loosely based" works for me, Margaret. :D