Saturday, August 20, 2011

Gray Lady


By Joseph Hesch


This porch’s cracked and dry boards show
the greyness of its age through what once
was a smooth coat of russet color.
She’s like a sleepy, sunning,
henna-rinsed Palm Beach dowager,
facedown and well-done,
with the top of her bikini unhooked.
If that lady were mine, I’d make sure
she kept her SPF high and fresh
and an umbrella between her
and prying eyes.
I would call that protecting
my investment and maybe a
little neighborhood dignity.
But I live with this ragged deck instead,
and I’ve dawdled much too long,
the time for preventative protection past,
the sun leaving incurable scars
and lesions on her.
This do-it-yourself deck dermatologist
will make her back smooth and true again.
I will respectfully conduct this surgery,
in deference to the old dear’s age,
with a gentle hammer and
a dignified circular saw.


Photo by Bill Frazzetto


I posted this poem today because I haven't done much over the past week--a week of vacation--other than work on a lengthy to-do list. I had no idea that my dVerse Poets Pub colleague Victoria Cereto-Slotto would ask for a poem based on Texture as part of her Poetics feature this afternoon.  I'd say "Gray Lady" fits the bill. Don't you?  Careful of splinters!
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22 comments:

  1. poetjanstieAugust 20, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Spot on, Joe. I so like your style. Five of your best, even if only since February, will not be hard to find. and immediately makes me feel guilty. I'm not doing the DIY!

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  2. Brian MillerAugust 20, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    nice...love the play on the deck being the lady...once you get her fixed up make sure you take care of her eh? smiles. some lovely touches in this one man...

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  3. LouiseAugust 20, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Was doing the DIY really this gentle? You write, as always so tenderly...I feel in need of some tender loving care too now... :)

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  4. Wine and WordsAugust 20, 2011 at 12:32 PM

    Only you could make chores so eloquent. The gift of restoration, and with such a gentle touch, is a true gift indeed. I kinda love how you would have protected the lady. It's endearing.

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  5. ClaudiaAugust 20, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    maybe your gray lady is more herself with all the scars and lesions and feels totally unfamiliar after giving her a make-over...smiles and you seem to have a sixth sense as the poem fits the prompt just perfectly..smiles

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  6. BeachannyAugust 20, 2011 at 4:45 PM

    Certainly had lots of texture throughout - the deck, the lady, the aging, and the metaphors playing on one another. Really well done!

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  7. MargaretAugust 20, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    Perfectly done!

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  8. AnonymousAugust 20, 2011 at 4:58 PM

    Quite evocative and full of tactile images.

    ~laurie

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  9. VictoriaAugust 20, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    This is about as textural as you can get, Joe. Fortunately, my husband pretty judicious about water-sealing our deck.

    I laughed out loud at the metaphor, though. I suppose it could apply to a Palm Desert dowager, too, but when I spend my winters down there, I DO NOT sunbathe, and definitely not in a bikini. LOL! Thanks for joining this.

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  10. hedgewitchAugust 20, 2011 at 5:27 PM

    I'm chuckling here, and I think you've created one of those metaphors that will be with you always--once you've smoothed and covered her cracks, you can get your outdoor decor together and deck her out royally. Great textures, and a sharp wit in this one.

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  11. Mark KerstetterAugust 20, 2011 at 6:21 PM

    Yeah, I'm chuckling at the comparison too. Living in Florida I've seen plenty of both types.

    bty I recently refinished the 100 year old floor on my front porch - gorgeous!

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  12. Arron ShillingAugust 20, 2011 at 7:43 PM

    Hey joe,

    textures and metaphors a plenty, with well written pictures i was royally entertained by your shapes and ideas - a chuckle for sure and some bite to keep the reader on their toes - circular saw - perfect

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  13. Anna :o]August 20, 2011 at 9:00 PM

    The grey lady is fine, maturing with age and showing her splendour - but perhaps she will be grateful for her makeover.

    Anna :o]

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  14. ScarletAugust 20, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    Nice textured story.. I enjoyed it very much.

    You handled the topic of age delicately. Hope she looks as good as new ~

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  15. AnonymousAugust 21, 2011 at 12:58 AM

    She’s like a sleepy, sunning,
    henna-rinsed Palm Beach dowager,
    facedown and well-done,
    with the top of her bikini unhooked.

    Wow, those are some lines! Thank you for the laugh and the well textured metaphor.

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  16. AnonymousAugust 21, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    Much intensity in your piece... perhaps, a few days off were more beneficial than you think.

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  17. Rosemary Nissen-WadeAugust 21, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    Oh, this is just lovely.

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  18. TashtooAugust 21, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    Ha! Joe, you make me smile. Even before I read your comment I was thinking guilt over the vacay at home to do list! Love the words, the descriptions, all of it. If anything, grey lady inspired this fantastic write before stepping aside for a fresh painted lady at the hands of the saw!

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  19. SheilaAugust 21, 2011 at 1:27 PM

    oh, lots of textures felt here. The wood's surface conditions and the circular saw gave me a jolt!

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  20. UnknownAugust 21, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    This is a favorite for sure, Joe. So good. And, who would think you could make such poetry out of tedium. You made the gray lady come to life, and textures were everywhere in this piece. Love it :)

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  21. Dave KingAugust 22, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    There are some great lines and images in this. I was enchanted by it.

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  22. Brian MillerAugust 22, 2011 at 10:47 PM

    thank you for your words at dverse today joe and all that you do...

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