Thin Ice ~~ anna hood ~~
The Rideau Canal has opened
Do you know it?
Ottawa, Canada?
Doesn't matter
really. We skated there
when we were children
on Baccarat crystal
ice etched and scored
with secrets. Mummie,
we always called her that,
bare legs, great legs showing
them off, skating
a stream of black hair
twisting and whipping
young men following
like, well you know like what.
I won't tell you
her faults. I never told then
I won't now, the stamping,
the slamming the slapping
and some others
faults unmentionable
unforgivable
maybe but then
we won't speak of that.
But she could fly, my mum
down the Rideau Canal
twin blades slicing
secret patterns across the ice
her own fire blazing
red coat red
lips red hot heat
and us
in her shadow
her awkward brood
swanlings all
waiting to be beautiful.
I closed my eyes for a moment
and we're past it
past our prime
past being beautiful
(we never quite managed)
and she was gone
like this winter afternoon
like the deep mauve sky
hanging heavy
pregnant with unshed snow
just out of reach.
None of us skate.
The Rideau Canal has opened
Do you know it?
Ottawa, Canada?
Doesn't matter
really. We skated there
when we were children
on Baccarat crystal
ice etched and scored
with secrets. Mummie,
we always called her that,
bare legs, great legs showing
them off, skating
a stream of black hair
twisting and whipping
young men following
like, well you know like what.
I won't tell you
her faults. I never told then
I won't now, the stamping,
the slamming the slapping
and some others
faults unmentionable
unforgivable
maybe but then
we won't speak of that.
But she could fly, my mum
down the Rideau Canal
twin blades slicing
secret patterns across the ice
her own fire blazing
red coat red
lips red hot heat
and us
in her shadow
her awkward brood
swanlings all
waiting to be beautiful.
I closed my eyes for a moment
and we're past it
past our prime
past being beautiful
(we never quite managed)
and she was gone
like this winter afternoon
like the deep mauve sky
hanging heavy
pregnant with unshed snow
just out of reach.
None of us skate.
Labels: thin ice
posted by anna at 3:21 PM
14 Comments:
This is vivid and beautiful.
It's hard to imagine our mothers with a passion. They are our mothers! We forget they were women first.
Anna,
So beautiful.
Big kiss.
See, now I am going to have to stop visiting you, because everytime I do, I am struck by how worthy these are of a book, or books, or international fame, and yet here we sit, here they stay to taunt us with their absolute beauty.
Nothing lasts.
There is the graveyard where everything I am talking about is,
now.
I stood there once, on the green grass, scattering flowers.
Mary Oliver
Roberta, yes even when we are grown it is difficult to think of our mothers as anything but mothers.
The mum in this piece was written for Tosca. Do you remember my Tosca? I think about her sometimes and it breaks my heart that I've neglected her for all these years.
Susan big Kiss back atcha!!
Saaleha, what a beautiful comment.
thank you so much - you've made my day
Al Bear, i must get my Mary Oliver out and read, as you know she used to be such a huge favourite of mine. I've neglected her.
again Thanks everybody. I so appreciate it!!
As always, much is under the ice.
Of course I remember Tosca. Who could forget.
Perhaps some companion pieces? To display here?
Dearest Anna,
Caught it. Caught the kiss. :-)
on Baccarat crystal
ice etched and scored
with secrets
Beautiful, poignant and, as always, alive with imagery. I stand in awe, Windsong ;-)
Bernita, hopefully there is always something under the ice.
this is a good idea Roberta! i probably should think of it
mwahhhhhh Suze
thanks Chicken Godess! is there such a thing? I'm sure there is
windsong
If there wasn't a chicken goddess before, there is one now - and I'll be it! ;-)
You like that new hippy name of yours, don't you ;-)
yes i quite like my new hippie name
but
i think i would like to be a goddess too
I like the last line very much indeed.
I like too that you don't sentimentalise the mother.
thanks anna very much. You always make my day :)
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