Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Secrets

Not to be Reproduced, 1937 René Magritte
©2013 Susan Noyes Anderson

Closed book am I,
cover-only showing;
all bound and stitched
up tight against
the knowing.

Print smeared and running
free across the pages,
corraled by seams and
fabric sewn in
stages.

I wrap it all up
carefully inside;
not even the mirror
sees the parts
I hide.

∞§∞

I was going to add that this poem is about the prompt, not me...
but then I got to thinking that we all see through a glass darkly
(sometimes not at all), especially when it comes to viewing ourselves. 
So maybe the fact that I wrote it means that it's a bit about me after all.

;)

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27 comments:

karen said...

I would have been disappointed if there hadn't been a bit of you in there. Would have meant you weren't human. And I know you are... such a nice one, too!

21 Wits said...

Yes, I believe we can all see a bit of this in our own waking day. That's really want makes a good poem stand out greatly above all the rest isn't it? Feeling that sense of place, it's rather grounding.

larainydays said...

I try to keep myself stitched up tight but I keep spilling out everywhere. I love the Magritte painting.

~T~ said...

Hmm. I'd like to say my life is an open book, but I prefer to control which page it's open to. Thought-provoking...

Anonymous said...

i like your skilful use of form & rhyme... & i think there's a little bit of truth there for all of us, whether we see it or not - well done

Anonymous said...

Absolutely perfect!

Grace said...

That last verse wraps it all nicely ~

Friko said...

It’s very hard not to let out bits of oneself, so I don’t even try.

If this poem is purely imaginary you are well able to crawl under somebody else’s skin. It’s a gem.

Brian Miller said...

you have to wonder a bit why it is we need to hide those parts...and very interesting as well that it is even from the mirror, so we dont have to look at it even...

Leovi said...

Well, the mirror never gives the real picture. Sometimes our brain interprets what our eyes see, or vice versa.

izzy said...

Point the finger at someone there are 3 pointing back-so yeah we do own some of it! : )

Stacy M.S. said...

Lovely poem...quite haunting and retrospective.

I just had a nice little romp through your blog and am your latest follower. I look forward to reading your poetry! :)

Unknown said...

Great take on the prompt! I think we all do try to wrap something up nicely - inside or outside.

Gail said...

I am always delighted with your creations.

yaya said...

I've always thought that no one really knows us...even those close to us. I like having something of myself that I can keep private...I guess that's a form of control. Sometimes I even surprise myself when my "wrapping" comes loose!

Amy said...

So true about seeing ourselves through a dark glass! That picture had me so confused momentarily, and I think your poem fits it perfectly.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

A bit of all of us in this.

kaykuala said...

Lots of you in there but keep them a secret. Yes, Sue, secrets stay with us. Nice thoughts, and only you are privy to them.

Hank

Helen said...

I enjoyed this ... I've always thought what we write, no matter the subject, reflects a bit of who we are.

jen said...

Magritte is one of my faves, along with you.

Your comment on Anna's blog was BRILLIANT!!! Well thought out and well constructed.

Will you write a post about it?

alpinekleins said...

I see my self in there a bit also . . . In some ways I'm an open book and in others I'm the sealed portion of the plates. Just depends on the conversation . . .

Kristin

Silent Otto said...

Still , he is interesting wouldnt you say ?

EG CameraGirl said...

I think you are are totally correct that few of us see ourselves the way others see us, and most of us are pretty good at hiding our true selves.

Anonymous said...

Nicely done. How we hide our inner depths.

Little Nell said...

A very well-constructed poem with rhythm, rhyme and form and the book analogy is excellent.

Helena said...

Those final two lines wonderfully delivered!

........loving the music - lured me to stay for a bit longer lurk!















Granny-Guru said...

Everything we write is about us, otherwise it wouldn't be authentic.