Southern Charm
The afternoon's heat has shackled me,
sweat pools in places secretive
and I close my eyes, sit upon a scrolled bench,
tidal breeze welcome,
imagine a time when women dressed in layers.
Unfazed, a haughty dandy emerges from the brush,
struts a bedazzled rainbow,
makes my dishevelment more apparent.
"Show-off," I mutter. He blinks, struts his crest.
I wilt, deflated, lean back,
watch sultriness ride the Ashley's blackwater current,
meander her way past the live oaks -
enjoy an age-old flirtation as fingers tickle the surface,
whose emerged roots in turn she caresses with silky coolness.
I raise my chin, invite her to touch me lovingly as well.
It's a courtship: the days simmering lassitude woos
evening's refreshing breath,
begs with open arms all the current can give.
Tomorrow all will be forgotten
as a hasty retreat is made toward the grand city
and bigger horizons, but for now, all is content.
Almost.
The peacock's train fans out, plumage iridescent.
"You win." I stroll back the way I came.
With such ornamentation, I dare not compete.
by Margaret Bednar, April 11, 2013
I'm also linking this poem with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Artistic Interpretations - Beauty". (April 24, 2017) I am the host and my "rules" were a new poem or greatly re-worked - this is neither - but I beg forgiveness. My 90 year old father had a mild stroke and it has kept me a bit distracted. He is improving each day and this is great - but I was unable to write a new poem for this prompt.
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This is written for Imaginary Garden With Real Toads "Destinations and Dialogues". The assignment is to: write a narrative about a place that is special, evil, nostalgic, beautiful, chaotic...whatever you want and try to nail the feeling that it gives you when you are there and confronted with its realness. This can be poetry, prose, technical writing...lol, I don't care. And to "sandwich it between a bit of narrative".
I have described sitting along the banks of the Ashely River which flows in to Charleston SC every morning and flows back towards Middleton Plantation every evening.
DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, CLICK ON THE LINK of Middleton Plantation... if not just for the header which showcases two "take your breath away" images! The link to Charleston has a lovely video. The Lowcountry is truly spectacular. You will see why it has stolen my heart.
I have also linked this with Poets United "Colored". What is more colorful than a peacock?
