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How Does Life Come to be Like This? #Day28 #NaPoWriMo

Lily watched them --him--
from behind her painting
watched with dismay
at the way he paused,

longingly
flushed with delight

paused, just to watch her,
but only when she wasn't looking
heedless that he was being watched too
why couldn't he do more? 

more than just watch?
a learned man like him,
quick with words--
what was he waiting for?

yes, a man like him--
surely he could get her to smooth his hair
and sit in silence
like she does with the children

but would she think it too pitiful
for a man like him
to want to do
something like that?

regardless, she is his wife;
they have eight children...

Lily saw him open a book;
pretend to read
but Lily could read him like a book
knew what he was thinking

of how her head was full--
every ounce of it--full,
with thoughts for their children and
that damn stocking she was knitting

oh, how he longs for her hands to
sit idle
neatly wrapped on her lap, Lily thought

but would he reach and claim her hands then?
would he stare into her eyes then too,
like they must have done
before the children came?

he must have imagined their life together,
full of moments of contemplation.
why then?
why can't he talk to her about his disappointments?

about the transitory events in the monotony of his workday?
or to simply enjoy the pleasure of sitting in silence?
and how?
how does life come to be like this?

***
© 2021 selmamartin.com

Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay 

https://www.napowrimo.net/
https://poets.org/national-poetry-month

A poem that asks questions is the optional prompt. Lovely. I like this.
I worked on questions that a fictional character in a book I like would
be contemplating. I bet you’ll know right away who this character is.
Please consider leaving me your thoughts on what I wrote. *wink*

Our prompt today (optional, as always), is to write a poem that poses a
series of questions. The questions could be a mix of the serious (“What is
the meaning of life?”) and humorous (“What’s the deal with cats knocking
things off tables?”), the interruptive (“Could you repeat that?”) and the
conversational (“Are those peanuts? Can I have some?”). You can choose to
answer them – or just let the questions keep building up, creating a poem
that asks the reader to come up with their own answer(s)

What fun this has been (hope you think so too) but, a promise is a promise– April
promises us 30 days every year. It has been fantastic for me (thank you, NaPoWriMo),
and I cannot wait to see what May has in store. Thanks for being here, and as always, I
wish you miracles. Always.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. Smitha V

    This is such a heartwarming poem Selma. It could be part of a novel I’d love to read. Loved the narrative style.

    1. Selma Martin

      It’s from a book that lingers in my mind: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf. A great read that grows on you. Took me a couple of tries to complete but after I did I started reading it once again. Brilliant!
      Thanks for reading. I wish you miracles

      1. Smitha V

        Thank you Selma for letting me know. It sounds like a lovely book. I will definitely add it to my TBR. xxx

  2. Dawn D. McKenzie

    I don’t know which book this is from, but I like the idea that, as youngsters, we have an idea of what life has in store, and then it turns out to be so very different, with not a single moment to be idle, to spend with the ones we love. Unless that is, we make a conscious decision to spend that idle time with them. That’s been my experience, at least.
    Thank you for the poetry!

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for the comment, Dawn. Sweet of you to read.
      As for the book, Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse — that’s where that came from. A wonderful read.
      Thanks for the comment. I wish you miracles.

      1. Dawn D. McKenzie

        I need to read Virginia Woolf. I’ve known I need to for years. Why I still haven’t is still a mystery!
        Miracles back to you!

  3. Manja Mexi Mexcessive

    Oh, indeed! It might be someone was influenced by Lily when choosing today’s prompt! 😉 Lovely imagery.

    1. Selma Martin

      Glad you enjoyed the image I painted, Manja. I appreciate you coming to read about Lily — Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse novel young character. Be well. I wish you miracles

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