Monday, October 18, 2010

Women Behind Windows

Woman in a Window by unknown artist

In this quiet town,
On this early morning,
When leaves are painted
On the horizon,
And eyes are yet
Blind with sleep, and dry,
And a cat is stalking a sparrow,
Meowing obscenely,
Clambering onto shiny cars
And slippery rooftops, 
And into gated gardens
And cloistered mansions,
And sunlight is filtering
Through the shroud of dawn,

A woman in a white dress
Leans upon a windowsill,
On elbows that have known
Other windows in other times,
And looks out into her garden,
Into another woman’s garden,
And that other woman’s window,

A woman who,
In this quiet town,
On this early morning,
While leaves and eyes
And cats and sunlight
Are doing their do’s,
Is setting her breakfast table:
Bread and butter and honey
And milk and bananas and berries,
While the rising sun makes
Painted glass out of the sky;

But a sudden storm swings by,
Shards of liquid ice and
The jerky dance of maples,
Whose silhouettes come alive
In blinked illuminations,
While the woman in her white dress
And the other at her kitchen table
Neither see nor hear
These visits from nature,
As one’s eyes are focused
Upon herself,
And the other’s eyes are focused
Upon the other;

They are hearing another music
Seeing with another eye:
Yearning and birth,
Liberation and death,
And the gratifying memories
Of that first house,
The house where, once upon a time,
They were little girls,
Never lingering behind windows
But always beyond them;

And from this muted recall,
A sliver of white light
Becomes full spectrum,
Blinding color on glass windows
That close… and enclose
forgotten time... and lost echoes.

35 comments:

Momo Luna S!gnals said...

Oh my, this makes me sigh and a tear in my eye. Again such beutiful words, such a great poem. Your words are so much alive; i can feel, i can hear and i can smell their meaning. Always amazing me with such beauty dear Nevine.
xoxo

Pat Tillett said...

I guess we all go through changes. Sometimes that's a sad thing...

Christopher said...

Something about autumn, and this post, makes me nostalgic. Makes me want to be a little kid out running around and jumping in leaves, instead of just looking out the window.

S. Susan Deborah said...

So many emotions yoked together. Past and present are held together wonderfully by words. I loved this stream of conscious progression of events in a day.

These lines sum up the entire experience of reading this piece:
"A sliver of white light
Becomes full spectrum, . . ."

Joy always,
Susan

Martin said...

This has a slightly different tone, Nevine. And I like it, very much.

I often wonder how much of our presence we leave behind us. Not only in departing this world, but merely moving from one place to another.

steveroni said...

Nevine, you are a great (I mean that!) poet, narrative, descriptive and other. And your observations of life, human and otherwise are such that beg for consignment to your kind of written posterity.

Certainly you are accustomed to accolades. There is absolutely no other way to comment your work without use of superlatives.

You force me to go to an open window in the early quietness of a quaint town, look at all the 3-story brightly-colored apartments, all the way up the narrow street(s) at the Peeps in other windows, observing--the same as I--all 'doing their do's'!

PEACE, Nevine...in all your 'doings',
Steve E

Manic said...

So evocative Nevine, of those still moments and of creosote flavoured memories of childhood. Memories of the memories of other moments and sightings of other window worriers and curtain twitchers. Loved it.

Catherine Vibert said...

I'm so glad you made the cat an integral part of this poem. Wonderful way of winding words through present and past, how we can become so internalized and so focused that we forget what is out there beyond the window, that life that as children we were so enthralled by. Beautiful my dear.

Anonymous said...

Nevine you do things to me with your words that border on something I could never do myself. You have took me to places that I thought I would never see and never understand. You do it with whispers from your lips that flood me with feelings that I have never felt before and when i'm done reading you, your words, your feelings, I'm exhausted in a good way...

Blasphemous Aesthete said...

you know, I believe that its never too late to begin again. Maybe they could take a day off from the chores and have fun, just like when they were girls.

Jai Joshi said...

You have such a gift for observation and description. The scene was so vivid. I could feel the wind as it made the trees dance, even though the two women didn't notice.

Jai

Betty Manousos said...

Another stunning and eloquent piece, my friend. You're absolutely a poet of great narrative power, I know I've said that before. This is a breathtaking sight of your insights in a new way. Love how you're playing with beautiful words, love the vivid images you're creating here.
The eternal sense of present and past,and change.

Thanks so much for sharing such beauty with us! :)
Warmest hugs to you my bestie!

TTYFF!
B xx
XX

Madame DeFarge said...

I felt like I was watching them from afar, but unobserved by them. A precious little moment here.

Nevine Sultan said...

Monica – I am so glad to have brought your senses alive. And you have made me smile with such lovely words. Thank you, as always.

Pat – Yes, we do all go through changes. And change can be sad… especially when beautiful memories are attached to the past.

Christopher – I have moments like you describe frequently. And they are moments of longing and a desire for liberation… a desire to be beyond the window… and out in the beauty of life.

Eemah – Thank you.

Nevine Sultan said...

Susan – Thank you for the lovely words. The past and the present are irrevocably held together, aren’t they? Joy in abundance back to you, Dear Susan.

Martin – Yes, I wonder about the very same. I like to think we do leave a mark, but often can’t help wondering how significant that mark is. And thank you for the comment about the difference in tone. I appreciate that.

Steve – Observing life is one of my favorite activities. And the behavior of others has always held a fascination for me. It’s a humbling reality that I am not alone in this world, and that the lives of others are filled with as much wonder as my own. Life is a blessing… and I am honored to partake of it. Thank you so much for your always kind words, Steve.

Nevine Sultan said...

Steppenwolf – Aren’t we all “window worriers and curtain twitchers”, in a way? I loved your description of what I wrote. It holds its own lovely poetry… and its own profound meaning. Thank you, Steppenwolf.

Cat – So lovely of you to swing by. What a delightful surprise! And thank you. Your words mean so very much… coming from you… such a talented woman… talented… in every way imaginable.

Sir Thomas – Ah, what a soothing thought! That you feel “exhausted in a good way”. That is how I like to feel after reading poetry, too. Thank you!

Nevine Sultan said...

Blasphemous Aesthete – What a lovely thought! Every woman needs that, I think. A day off from the humdrum of life to live and enjoy life as it was, once upon a time.

Jai – That’s such a beautiful comment. Hmmm… the observation. Maybe it’s because I close my eyes… and then see things… again… with my eyes closed.

Betty – Your words always make me feel warm and fuzzy. And I love to play with words… so long as you are enjoying them, too. Thank you for your readership… and your friendship, Betty.

Mme. DeFarge – Yes, that is how I felt, too. Like a silent voyeur…

Wild Rose said...

This is masterfully crafted and so lyrical, i enjoyed and was touched by each word. Phases of life that we all go through and watching ourselves through others and like mirror reflections of our inner selves. As always you intrigue me with your thought provoking pieces and your words take me into deep places i didn't think existed my sweetest delight.

Thank you always for making my days with your beautiful imagery. Am currently out of the country on a trip and may not be on as much due to internet access as you know so if you don't see me around don't worry i will comment on all i miss as soon as am able to.
Love you darling muah xoxo

Wild Rose~

Shadow said...

lost in themselves and in one another... and end up missing what's now...

Cildemer said...

Wow, ma belle! Love to see the scene through your eyes!
I felt as I was myself looking out of a third window;o)

***
Plein de gros BISOUS, mon amie*******

Rick said...

Nev
not only can I see her in the window, I think I may have been her. or perhaps her reflection. Beautiful again.
~rick

Eva said...

This captures the essence of my life at the moment. I remember those times we were beyond windows. I wish to find those times again. Lovely work as always, Nevine.

Menina said...

I've just come to the blogs after a good few months of absence and I'm so glad yours was the first I chose to read. You write so beautifully, Nevine. Thanks for always being such an inspiration.

Dulçe ♥ said...

Another one spot of life captured the way only YOU can... A lifetime told, two lives and theirs before.
Nevine sweetest
This is magnifique...
I see myself there, either of them is me, or you... Yes, there is a time when looking out of the window IS essential in our lives, there is a time when we have time to spend doing so... and remembering the past times...

Hugs, my dearest!
;)

Unknown said...

The eternal connection of children - to one another - through time - through circumstance - through everything.

steveroni said...

Hey girl...it is almost SATURDAY--well, Friday morning at least! No word from you for five days, Dearn. ('Dearn' is "dear nevine", FYI--grin!)

But you ARE allowed time off--for good behavior, and your behaving has been WAYYYY over par. However, I DO hope all is OK with you.

PEACE!
steveroni

Nevine Sultan said...

Wild Rose - It is lovely of you to stop in while you are traveling. And I ask you to please not worry about it at all. I hope you are doing well and enjoying your trip, and thank you so much for leaving this trail of scented blossoms you've left for me. Tight hugs to you, dear Wild Rose. Muah!

Shadow - You are so right about that!

Cremilde - It's nice to imagine oneself a voyeur, sometimes. Or else, to just play the voyeur and watch... secretly... and to observe just how interesting are the lives of others... and even our own... if we just stop... and look. Merci, ma belle. Bisous!!!

Rick - Maybe you are her... because you are such a thin spirit... and a time traveler... and a shape shifter... and I mean that in every good way possible. ;-)

Nevine Sultan said...

Eva - I think that as we lose the child that we are... and lose some of our innocence... we become trapped behind those windows that are of our own creations. It's as if we make prisoners of ourselves.

Menina - Wow! What a lovely comment. And I'm so happy to know I inspire... on some level. And you are such a writer of the soul, Menina. So, I so appreciate your words.

Dulce - Sometimes, when we look out of windows, we see things we don't see when we open doors. I think it's that feeling of being "inside" and seeing the outside that makes us all the more observant of what is happening out there. When we feel cloistered... or oppressed... that outer world is all the more appealing. Thank you so much for the sweet sweet words, Dulce.

Lou - It seems that the connections we establish as children are the truest connections. And though this is a nice thing... it is also a sad thought. Why can't we continue to be true as we age?

Steve - How nice of you to check in on me. I am fine... but life sometimes gets in the way... and I must pause... and do what must be done. Thank you for being so sweet, Steve.

Judith Mercado said...

There is here an observation of the essential aloneness of each person, lost within her own world to the exclusion of the outside world. Even the observer is lost in a sort of aloneness as she lives through observing and not through direct living. Provocative.
Beautifully written as usual.

E. Studnicka said...

This is a beautiful mesh of realism and wonder. Your prose is the window that we see ourselves through and it does not fail to give me goosebumps.

Owen said...

Couldn't help but think of :

"I've seen the light come shining
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day
I shall be released"

You open doors in the walls around us, and taking our hand, lead us into other worlds, other moods, other times, other realms, just other... And this is a good thing...

Nevine Sultan said...

Judy - And as usual, you are a keen observer of the worlds I create. And I so appreciate that, Judy. It always makes the writing a more joyous experience.

Militant Working Boy - Welcome, and thank you for leaving me such insightful thoughts. Much of what I write is very much related to self-awareness, and it seems, as you've stumbled this way on a first visit, you have captured the essence of just what I do. Goosebumps... I love knowing you had some goosebumps. Thank you for stopping in, and for leaving such nice words.

Owen - And you are so nice... to peek... every once in a while... inside those doors... and experience those other worlds. Can I say it's not quite the same when you're not sharing the view?

Silver said...

When i wasn't posting, i would still visit blogs on my blog list from time to time and yours, being one of them. I can't help but marvelled at the prose on this page that seems to just come alive at your manipulation! How i envy that.. there's so much talent in this young woman!

Thanks also for your encouragement. It touches me a lot. Thanks Nevine ;)

Natasha Milburn Lalita (Novelist) said...

Of little women and gentle places you sing so beutifully bringing back the sensations locked inside the soul, the taste, the smell of young life that still lingers somewhere

Nevine Sultan said...

Silver - It is such a pleasure to see you back in Blogland! You have been missed, to say the very least. And thank you for the sweet words.

Lolita - Like poetry... your words. Thank you.