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Array
(
[sid] => 85846
[catid] => 1
[aid] => mick
[title] => Shoes
[time] => 2005-02-26 19:41:24
[hometext] => A long one. Came from about 4 hours spent at the Holocaust Museum yesterday. Note: the first line is a reference to Esmerelda from Hunchback of Notre Dame (the Disney movie - heh) and the gypsies in Europe circa WWII. [title by SNM :)]
[bodytext] => esmerelda who is not a gypsy
breathes on numb fingers
enters yesterday through revolving doors
checks black coat at drawbridge and
enters the castle
esmerelda with a silent yellow star
joins ghosts in lines of statistics
mouths names that were everything once
builds up immunities to diseases
no one talks about
esmerelda who is a coward
would not have spoken out
when they came for the trade unionists
knows what it is to close your eyes
forgives without having the right
esmerelda who is invisible
dissolves into grey quiet voices
is stifled by meaningless sounds
Heydrich and Dachau and Terizen
caught in her throat
esmerelda who refuses food
takes in walls of bodies (not people)
scans texts and hurries to keep up with the group
does not fall apart, does not cry
ponders her humanity
esmerelda with papercuts on five fingers,
esmerelda who waits for the mirror to smile first,
esmerelda who tries to be less,
esmerelda whose fashionable pain
defines her
writes her entry in the museum guestbook for her,
stares at snapshot remnants of millions
absorbs a thousand worn, scarred blue shoes
pairs each with a biography in sepia
walks, barefoot, out of yesterday.
-
and
esmerelda with the potential to be herself
runs a finger down stern, judging stone
leaving snowy washington
reads engraved latin on a grand piano
"sic transit gloria mundi"
and esmerelda who dreams in sensory associations
not color, not black-and-white
understands -because sometimes she does-
is everything for an instant
murmurs, "so fades the glory of the world"
and chokes on - breathes in
the knowledge that she is
{for better for worse and for nothing at all}
too brief, too bright, too soontobe
too blind and incandescent
to take her place as one more
tanned, faded,
solidly slight and significant
shoe.
[comments] => 12
[counter] => 1023
[topic] => 61
[informant] => ShadowDaughter
[notes] =>
[ihome] => 0
[alanguage] => english
[acomm] => 0
[haspoll] => 0
[pollID] => 0
[score] => 35
[ratings] => 7
[editpoem] => 1
[associated] =>
[topicname] => selfstruggles
)
Shoes
Contributed by
ShadowDaughter
on
Saturday, 26th February 2005 @ 07:41:24 PM in AEST
Topic:
selfstruggles
|
esmerelda who is not a gypsy
breathes on numb fingers
enters yesterday through revolving doors
checks black coat at drawbridge and
enters the castle
esmerelda with a silent yellow star
joins ghosts in lines of statistics
mouths names that were everything once
builds up immunities to diseases
no one talks about
esmerelda who is a coward
would not have spoken out
when they came for the trade unionists
knows what it is to close your eyes
forgives without having the right
esmerelda who is invisible
dissolves into grey quiet voices
is stifled by meaningless sounds
Heydrich and Dachau and Terizen
caught in her throat
esmerelda who refuses food
takes in walls of bodies (not people)
scans texts and hurries to keep up with the group
does not fall apart, does not cry
ponders her humanity
esmerelda with papercuts on five fingers,
esmerelda who waits for the mirror to smile first,
esmerelda who tries to be less,
esmerelda whose fashionable pain
defines her
writes her entry in the museum guestbook for her,
stares at snapshot remnants of millions
absorbs a thousand worn, scarred blue shoes
pairs each with a biography in sepia
walks, barefoot, out of yesterday.
-
and
esmerelda with the potential to be herself
runs a finger down stern, judging stone
leaving snowy washington
reads engraved latin on a grand piano
"sic transit gloria mundi"
and esmerelda who dreams in sensory associations
not color, not black-and-white
understands -because sometimes she does-
is everything for an instant
murmurs, "so fades the glory of the world"
and chokes on - breathes in
the knowledge that she is
{for better for worse and for nothing at all}
too brief, too bright, too soontobe
too blind and incandescent
to take her place as one more
tanned, faded,
solidly slight and significant
shoe.
Copyright ©
ShadowDaughter
... [
2005-02-26 19:41:24]
(Date/Time posted on
site)
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by faith_my_eyes on
Saturday, 26th February 2005 @ 08:04:58 PM AEST
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a Message)
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| Brilliant. This is a very creative way to approach such a topic as emotional as this. I like how you used a gypsy to represent yourself-- as if you are a wanderer. As for a title, I would call it so fades the glory-- it really captures the essence of the piece. |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Rhymingron on
Saturday, 26th February 2005 @ 08:35:35 PM AEST
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| I have trouble with naming my own, so I can't help there. This is an excellent poem, so well put together. Alot of thought had to go into this. |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by blowfish_jane on
Sunday, 27th February 2005 @ 06:22:33 AM AEST
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I should probably visit a museum to write like that.
This was just outstanding Nora, it’s emotively and beautiful in the same time.
As for the name I would call it “A Fading Star” or “Esmeraldas Pain”
Anyways I really enjoyed this.
Jane @)---
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by lostinmyself on
Sunday, 27th February 2005 @ 02:24:06 PM AEST
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Gosh Norry... I really don't know what to say to this. But for some reason, after reading it I almost want to cry.
And some of it took my breath away...
stares at snapshot remnants of millions
absorbs a thousand worn, scarred blue shoes
pairs each with a biography in sepia
walks, barefoot, out of yesterday.
I would call it something like... The Esmerelda af faded yesterdays.
But..I'm not good at comments and may be getting this poem totally wrong, so if that doesn't work, I'm sorry.
*hugs* Phil xxx |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by MoonlitAngel on
Sunday, 27th February 2005 @ 08:51:59 PM AEST
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a Message)
|
i love it when i understand your poems. :P
i was gonna tell you the lines that jumped out at me and really meant something to me but when i tried, i decided there's too many to list them all. lol. so i'll just say that i REALLY enjoyed reading this, conflicted as my enjoyment was, and i can't wait to see the day you reach your potential and then go far beyond it. i know you will. even if it takes years. it's an important process and it wouldn't mean as much as it will if you didn't have to go through that process.
i've digressed. fantastic poem. :) |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Former_Member on
Tuesday, 1st March 2005 @ 05:57:50 PM AEST
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"Not Yet Worn"
. . . Long, but not easily forgotten. |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Silent-No-More on
Saturday, 5th March 2005 @ 02:49:43 AM AEST
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a Message)
|
Oh Nora!
oh gosh --- I'm not commenting.... not really, not yet--- for I'm soooo not able right now.
but the title... a suggestion... "Shoes", Nora... just - yes - "Shoes"... Oh I know I know I know... it seems (would seem) so terribly obviously to some, but it's sooo not, not really no - no not at all, obvious --- and I'm thinking... I'm guessing - you'll know what I mean by that. And I know, I know - your titles are usually longer -- but here, really, longer just doesn't seem necessary (at least, to me).
~Snemmy~
(who can't manage more right now even though - geesh - there are screams, overwhelming screams, bouncing around inside her right now) |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by inoc on
Saturday, 5th March 2005 @ 04:46:38 AM AEST
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A professional written poem that leaves me wanting to be so clever!!!
So wonderfully differsnt in every aspect....
"Fingers in time "maybe!?[for a title]
Otherwise I am sure you CAN think of a brilliant title to match your brilliant poem!
Let us know what you have made as a title Nora...be great to know the end result!! |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Stitch on
Saturday, 5th March 2005 @ 04:13:17 PM AEST
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a Message)
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I couldn't begin this without thinking of my son. I couldn't end it without thinking of the millions more like him. I have to accept that I am only one Mom...and I am so thankful for God.
Stitch |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by liquidsunshine on
Tuesday, 8th March 2005 @ 07:56:30 AM AEST
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It is not hard for me to say that this could possibly be the best poem I've read on YPDC. I'm not kidding. I'm printing this out tonight in some font I deem fitting and "picturesque" so I can put it on my wall.
Brilliantly heartfelt and compassionate... just... breathtaking... a job more than well done.
Lots of love and peace be with you,
Chelsea |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Fionndruinne on
Friday, 11th March 2005 @ 05:05:08 PM AEST
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The theme of this piece, as illumined by the ending, is very beautiful. I can place myself in Esmerelda's shoes very easily, given the depth with which they are described.
Also I have a strange propensity to be moved by lines and epigrams of foreign tongue - especially Latin - appearing in poetry.
Well done, methinks. As for title... let's see.
*thinks*
well, nothing comes to mind. I'll keep thinking.
Andrew
(who much enjoyed this) |
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Re: Shoes
(User Rating: 1 )
by Silent-No-More on
Tuesday, 22nd March 2005 @ 12:08:49 AM AEST
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Ok.... now... an attempt at a comment (though I know already that it will be nowhere near adequate)...
I once stood alone in a room in the Civil Rights Museum (Memphis TN)... staring for what seemed like hours at a photograph on the wall. Tears were streamin down my face. And I.... couldn't move. It is a moment that I will hold in my memory forever... one that I list very high on the list of the defining moments of my life. (I've been trying since to write of it... but... I honestly don't know if I'll ever find the words even though, the image remains painfully clear in my mind.)
This is enormous, Nora. What you put on the page... is, I believe, what I could not. It is with awe that I leave this page each time I come to it. Oh! how I wish the world were full of people like you...
You're heart is an amazing thing, hon - don't ever EVER let someone convince you otherwise-
~Snemmy~ |
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