Friday, December 08, 2006

The Date

Ainura’s beautiful face
was brick hard
when she stepped
out the apartment door.

On the stairs down it
softened the way clouds
cover the sun.

The apartment above
started to float
and blew away
as if a wisp of fog.

The future sparkled like black glass,
the coded door opened in an adoring gasp and
she stepped out in the huge mansion of the night.

24 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...

A lovely transformation!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks crafty green poet! The miracle of change is often magnificent. Thanks for the visit and the great comment!

ozymandiaz said...

Yes, indeed, great description of the transistion and how the emotion of the evening manifest about her...

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Ozy! As you probably recall, I find transformations fascinating. Thanks for that heart warming comment, my friend!

J. Andrew Lockhart said...

wow! beautifully said!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Andrew! I'm glad you liked it and thanks for the enthusiastic comment.

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

the mansion of the night or the day for that matter a case for building a wall-the pain of many experiences baked in to it

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Sue! The house of pain is small, intimate. The mansion of the night has many rooms.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

A great one, Russell. Heading to Tucson...

This is an extraordinary line: "huge mansion of the night"

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Don! Have a good trip. I won't get there until the 24th. Glad you liked the poem and thanks for the warm words.

Pat Paulk said...

Well done Russell!! "she stepped out in the huge mansion of the night" is an awesome line!!

S.L. Corsua said...

I imagine her every footstep to be cradled by clouds. Ahh, such beauty -- the kind that would merit the ire of Venus, eh? ^_^ This reminds me of Psyche (Cupid's wife).

Mesmerizing, Russell.

Cheers.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Pat! I wish I could take credit entirely for that image but Berryman used a scary version of it in one of his earlier poems (I can't remember which one but I will look it up) that I am aware of. This poem needs a rather different mansion to support the kind of mythology that soulless, for example, has plugged into the emotional framework I wanted here. Thanks, though, for your accurate assesment of the excellence of this image and thanks for the great comment.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks soulless! In addition to being beautiful and talented, you also posses a profound grasp of clasical mythology as well. This is not at all surprising for such a clever individual as yourself.

I feel as if I write my poems only with your help and they are nowhere near complete until you have read them. Ah such beauty you add (and new levels of complexity)!

Thanks for the wonderful comment, my sweet.

Anonymous said...

I love its hopefulness. It's gorgeous!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks miss richardson! Much possibility can carry much hope. I'm glad you liked this and thanks for the wonderful comment!

Anonymous said...

Russell, I love the mood and visuals that this poem ellicits.

Andre M. said...

Differences are nothing but illusions. Deep down, we are all one.
Amazing blog you've got here.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Aurora! I wanted this poem to have its emotional movement baised on a haiku-like group of visuals. That you linked the mood with the visuals is a very good piece of information for me. Thanks for you insightful comment, sweet one.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks andre l.! As you know, we both started our blogs in the same year. I'm glad we are both still posting our souls. I enjoy your poetry and think your blog is great. Thanks for the visit and the kind words.

Crunchy Weta said...

Great use of imagery Russell! Loved the juxtaposition of housing and nature and the transitional nature of things.
Cheers
Glenn

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Glenn! The juxtaposition works back and again with housing and nature doesnt it. Love those transitions.
Thanks and Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I like the slow changing visuality of the poem.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks gautami tripathy! I'm always delighted when you like one of my poems. Thanks for the kind words.