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.
O at the Edges 
Oh yes! Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Susi!
LikeLike
This is lovely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLike
This is a wonderful piece, and the pictures you selected make it even more powerful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The laundries were horrific places, benefitting the moneyed class in the name of charity.
LikeLike
i was really struck by the imagery… beautifully written.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks very much.
LikeLike
Yes, the images were perfect. I always have to read twice! Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Meg. I enjoy the search for the right images.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t find a word to add or omit. Very engaging. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Darryl.
LikeLike
Beautiful and heartbreaking… the plight of the women who haunt the Magdalene walls. You are hell of a poet, sensei!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Daniel. Those walls should be forever haunted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve nominated you for a Liebster Award! 🙂 http://wp.me/p23DMH-JI
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you for reblogging, and for your generous comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Robert, I sent you a friend request on FB: Leslie Hall Noyes. I’m not crazy, and I seldom have been arrested for stalking….
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLike
You are the master, Robert. The beauty and depth and backstory – the images, every element perfectly included to create something so meaningful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
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. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, I’d say you know how to make a predicament work for you then! Because it is!
LikeLike
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.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, George.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on What I write and commented:
One of the best poems I have read in a long time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Much appreciated, George. And thank you for your kind comments.
LikeLike
Fantastic, thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Glenn.
LikeLike
So poignant
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cheryl.
LikeLike
Love this:”…she pours water into the night’s mouth”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Cate.
LikeLike
What a topic to write about… Nothing deters you from voicing your feelings… Gulp, this is powerful stuff…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Krys. There’s so much to write about, and so very little time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed…other somewhat petty things seem to get in the way…sigh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t they? Very annoying at times.
LikeLike
Oh my God — your poetry has all the rhythm, cadence, and delicate beauty of a magical spell’s working. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve made my day, Carrie. Thank you.
LikeLike
You write wonderfully. Love your stuff x
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
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
LikeLiked by 1 person
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.
LikeLike
Brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Still Another Photoblog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reblogging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: 果敢22: 清掃… Cleaning!! | I Am Daniel Schnee