Chipped Varnish and Veneers

I used to forget to wear shoes,
smile at the other mothers,
the silver rings on my toes glinting
as they whispered in asides
'arty' their enamel teeth and Dior
lenses glinting, it is summer of course
and as a child we didn't wear shoes,
my feet are used to pinching stones,
I only hop when its hot, I think about
the beautiful beaded slippers
I was given as a gift, I wore them
constantly, until bead by bead
they fell scattering and then it was time
to move again and I invested in
fur lined boots but they made my feet
feel too cool, never hot enough,
as walking on a beach in Goa
where you slipped me a kiss and
vows were never said, I promised
myself a prince and on a dormant day
we sat prosaically in a fish restaurant,
staring at autumn ducks dabbling
in the harbour streams, a grey drizzle,
I watched my heart settle on the distant
tug that shugged slowly out to sea.
You ordering from a blackboard
my fingernails scraping until everything
tasted like chalk in the games we played.
Chipped varnish and veneers
nothing is ever as it appears.



Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 711 times
Written on 2015-10-19 at 18:53

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Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Beautiful. You manage to take everyday events and turn them into an artistic dance :)
2015-10-22



I often see poems commented on here as ''that's a very Elle-poem.'' That fits here. Lots of dazzling images and a study on the intricacies of romance and dreams. Lovely post.
2015-10-20



maybe it's memory but it makes me believe it was yesterday. great
2015-10-20


one trick pony The PoetBay support member heart!
i was thinking of "rings on her fingers and bells on her toes," as i read, in honor of the carefree nature of your poem. in the end, though, it is something other than carefree. *nothing is ever as it appears.* so true.
2015-10-20



Brilliant Elle I love your writing!
I love drifting through every luscious line.
You are a truly gifted writer:)
2015-10-19


josephus The PoetBay support member heart!
I love wandering along with you as you speak so extemporaneously about the past present and future.
As a reader I feel the intimacy of love in what you share with me. Thank you Elle, for that intimacy
2015-10-19