Nights at the Magdalene Laundry
Waiting, as if it could
be foreseen, as if influence and love
and truth could ease into the conversation,
she pours water into the night’s
mouth. A little longer, says the voice,
and the wind bends the grass,
reaching, without apprehension, a conclusion.
Which is not to claim verity, nor the patience of stone
crumbling along the ledge.
She leaves when nothing remains.
Oh yes! Love it!
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Thanks, Susi!
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This is lovely!
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Thank you.
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This is a wonderful piece, and the pictures you selected make it even more powerful.
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The laundries were horrific places, benefitting the moneyed class in the name of charity.
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i was really struck by the imagery… beautifully written.
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Thanks very much.
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Yes, the images were perfect. I always have to read twice! Love it!
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Thanks, Meg. I enjoy the search for the right images.
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I couldn’t find a word to add or omit. Very engaging. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Darryl.
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Beautiful and heartbreaking… the plight of the women who haunt the Magdalene walls. You are hell of a poet, sensei!!
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Thank you, Daniel. Those walls should be forever haunted.
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I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award! 🙂 http://wp.me/p23DMH-JI
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My apologies. I somehow missed this comment. I’ve elected not to accept blog awards, but I truly appreciate the sentiment. Thanks very much for considering me.
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Reblogged this on Praying for Eyebrowz and commented:
“She pours water into the night’s mouth.” Oh my! Read more at robertokaji.com. He’s seriously one of the best poets I’ve ever read.
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Thank you for reblogging, and for your generous comments.
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Robert, I sent you a friend request on FB: Leslie Hall Noyes. I’m not crazy, and I seldom have been arrested for stalking….
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I’ve accepted your request, despite these discrepancies. But what else is on your rap sheet? 🙂 You should know that my wife says I’m harmless.
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You are the master, Robert. The beauty and depth and backstory – the images, every element perfectly included to create something so meaningful.
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You are too kind, Kelly. I seldom know what I’m writing about, until I do, and then it’s too late to do anything about it. 🙂
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Well, I’d say you know how to make a predicament work for you then! Because it is!
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Powerful in every way it could be powerful, Robert; a masterpiece of imagery with or without the photos, which lend a lot of visual depth.
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Thank you, George.
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Reblogged this on What I write and commented:
One of the best poems I have read in a long time.
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Much appreciated, George. And thank you for your kind comments.
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Fantastic, thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you, Glenn.
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So poignant
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Thanks, Cheryl.
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Love this:”…she pours water into the night’s mouth”
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Thanks, Cate.
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What a topic to write about… Nothing deters you from voicing your feelings… Gulp, this is powerful stuff…
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Thanks, Krys. There’s so much to write about, and so very little time.
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Indeed…other somewhat petty things seem to get in the way…sigh!
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Don’t they? Very annoying at times.
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Oh my God — your poetry has all the rhythm, cadence, and delicate beauty of a magical spell’s working. 🙂
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You’ve made my day, Carrie. Thank you.
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You write wonderfully. Love your stuff x
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Thank you!
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The poem opens itself to various readings. I am struck by the line “as if influence and love
and truth could ease into the conversation,” I find this brings in a note of sadness and melancholy, which actually seems to permeate the poem in different ways. The implication of that conditional is, “no, none of that can actually ‘ease into the conversation,'” Great pathos here!
Jim Valero
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Thanks, Jim. The conditional, and the accompanying implications, are powerful tools to express without telling. I’m a proponent of implication, of allowing readers to fill in the blanks.
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Brilliant!
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Thank you.
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Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
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Thanks for reblogging.
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