Tuesday, August 16, 2011

A Naked Eye Turned Inward (Poem)

A Naked Eye Turned Inward

A scrap of moon fights the sky for its light
and I, braced for the shining, reach through clouds
thrown up in our way. Your eyes fix on night,
on seeing how constellations can crowd

from view the remnants of the comet's tail
pulling us through storms. My own hook on loops
of Orion's belt, its star studs like nails
holding me in place, alone to recoup

what we have lost as one. The Scorpion
raised, the hunter bares full sword, and as we
were — once quick to orbit the other's sun —
fall prey, each left a dark dust cloud to flee.

        Like ancient tales our own we tell as new.
        A naked eye turned inward sees end through.

© 2011 Maureen E. Doallas


 Audio Recording of A Naked Eye Turned Inward by mdoallas

28 comments:

Louise Gallagher said...

"braced for the shining" -- beautiful.

Love the poem -- and your last two lines are stunning.

Kelly Sauer said...

Oh this hurts, M, in the strangest, most beautiful way.

You get caught up in the imagery and you don't quite know what is coming until you realize where you are and that you have known that feeling - that you do know that feeling.

It is exquisite.

S. Etole said...

This caught me a bit unaware ... and I ponder.

Beachanny said...

Everything about this is good. A scrap of moon fights - love the turn, usually creatures fight for scraps but here the scrap fights..clever. Then the layering where night sky becomes symbolic of a cold space in the relationship and deeper into the myths that surround the names and back to solitude, coldness, and pain. Yet even though there is sympathy for the narrator here, there is an understanding that the coldness in the relationship mirrors that of space and is faultless almost.

Excellent work Maureen. Each week I read your poems and am rewarded with their depth, fluidity, and precision. Thank you.

Jenne' R. Andrews said...

Truly we are fated to read the alphabet of the stars when we love. We are blinded and singed, song torn from us. This is delectable, beautifully imagined and constructed. I especially love:

My own hook on loops
of Orion's belt, its star studs like nails
holding me in place, alone to recoup

what we have lost as one.


Revelatory of a mastery of the craft of poetry. xxxxj

Brian Miller said...

the depths to which you plunge in such beautiful imagery...it aches...very nice maureen....

katdish said...

Is that you speaking? You sound just like I imagined you would. Lovely.

Maureen said...

Yes, Kathy; 'tis I.

hedgewitch said...

The sonnet's stately and structured pace holds the wine in the wineglass of this poem poerfectly, a balanced and mellow draft with a film of loss and sadness left on the tongue. Lovely.

Daydreamertoo said...

There's no place like the being among the stars to take us on a galaxy flight of dreams.
A lovely read, thank you.

Jannie Funster said...

The loops in Orion's belt -- that's way cool. And I bet he has a big belt buckle he flashes at Pegasus, and off they both ride towards The North Star?

I love how you inspired me!

Timoteo said...

Orbiting the other's sun, we are often sucked in by their gravitational pull, only to be torched by the all-consuming fire of love.

signed...bkm said...

A stunning flight through the heavens in love...left as one..then alone..then naked...very nice Maureen..thank you..bkm

Anonymous said...

wow! that was quite a ride...

Diane Walker said...

I agree: a lovely read. But it does make me worry; the sadness is palpable.

Pat Hatt said...

This peice really transports the reader within it's tale, wonderfully done.

Anonymous said...

What a nice capture of nighttime you've given us.

Tashtoo said...

This is, quite simple, amazing. I don't think one such as I can add anything more than the already glowing comments you've received. I will, however, enjoy it a second time! Wonderful

RMP said...

hauntingly beautiful and sad. your words provoke such wonderful images. i can almost picture the fighting moon and you hanging from Orion's belt. lovely.

Elizabeth Young said...

Sadness and great loss permeate this beautiful piece Maureen, but it is interwoven in such a delightful way that though we may be haunted, we are infinitely richer.

Mark Kerstetter said...

I especially like the final couplet. That last line is a star all by itself.

ayala said...

This poem is beautiful !

Anonymous said...

Great sonnet narrative, Maureen! Love the story, full of movement among the stars, which are a fav them of mine.

Anonymous said...

Like ancient tales our own we tell as new.
A naked eye turned inward sees end through.

Thank you for the beautiful reading as well. These tales are more alive in the world than often acknowledged. It's a shame because we can gain so much humanity through them. Beautiful.

Glynn said...

And through this poem we saikl to the stars. C'est wonderful.

Anna @ waysidewordgarden said...

This is a gorgeous piece. That last couplet is stunning.

Ruth said...

The scrap of moon, an eye or a shield, or both, shines in this vision of the night sky. A universe in a grain of sand . . . a relationship in the myths and constellations, you pull me through from universal to personal very well.

Patricia said...

Maureen,
Loved hearing your voice. Your head and heart knowledge of poetry is intimidating in a good way. Mostly, I appreciate that you do not stop me from getting in the sandbox to play while you are building ornate castles like this piece. =)
... I am struck by your words... I have been there. What an amazing way to describe it.