rintrah
02-10-2007, 07:25 AM
Born today in 1934, New Zealand poet Fleur Adcock has made a resounding impact on world literature. Happy birthday Fleur, may you be read!
If you have never discovered her wonderfully ironic poems which often feature a dark twist, enjoy this one, and you find more at
http://www.arlindo-correia.com/080305.html
Double-Take
You see your next-door neighbour from above,
from an upstairs window, and he reminds you
of your ex-lover, who is bald on top,
which you had forgotten. At ground level
there is no resemblance. Next time you chat
with your next-door neighbour, you are relieved
to find that you don’t fancy him.
A week later you meet your ex-lover
at a party, after more than a year.
He reminds you of (although only slightly)
of your next-door neighbour. He has a paunch
like your neighbour’s before he went on that diet.
You remember how much you despise him.
He behaves as if he’s pleased to see you.
When you leave (a little earlier
than you’d intended, to get away)
he gives you a kiss which is more than neighbourly
and says he’ll ring you. He seems to mean it.
How odd! But you are quite relieved
to find that you don’t fancy him.
Unless you do? Or why that sudden
something, once you get outside
in the air? Why are your legs prancing
so cheerfully along the pavement?
And what exactly have you just remembered?
You go home cursing chemistry.
If you have never discovered her wonderfully ironic poems which often feature a dark twist, enjoy this one, and you find more at
http://www.arlindo-correia.com/080305.html
Double-Take
You see your next-door neighbour from above,
from an upstairs window, and he reminds you
of your ex-lover, who is bald on top,
which you had forgotten. At ground level
there is no resemblance. Next time you chat
with your next-door neighbour, you are relieved
to find that you don’t fancy him.
A week later you meet your ex-lover
at a party, after more than a year.
He reminds you of (although only slightly)
of your next-door neighbour. He has a paunch
like your neighbour’s before he went on that diet.
You remember how much you despise him.
He behaves as if he’s pleased to see you.
When you leave (a little earlier
than you’d intended, to get away)
he gives you a kiss which is more than neighbourly
and says he’ll ring you. He seems to mean it.
How odd! But you are quite relieved
to find that you don’t fancy him.
Unless you do? Or why that sudden
something, once you get outside
in the air? Why are your legs prancing
so cheerfully along the pavement?
And what exactly have you just remembered?
You go home cursing chemistry.