A woman sits down for breakfast

[PrinceMyshkin]

A woman sits down for breakfast,
the first of thousands with her new husband:
one-half of a grapefruit, lightly-buttered
brown toast, a soft-boiled egg, coffee.

The space-time continuum moves through
and around them. She isn’t thinking
exactly, not wholly formed sentences
unless love is a sentence or wonderment
or a whisper of anxiety.

A bird lands on a branch of the tree
in their backyard,
unseen by either of them.



Jerry Newman © 25Dec07

[firefangled]

A woman sits down for breakfast,
the first of thousands with her new husband:
one-half of a grapefruit, lightly-buttered
brown toast, a soft-boiled egg, coffee.

The space-time continuum moves through
and around them. She isn’t thinking
exactly, not wholly formed sentences
unless love is a sentence or wonderment
or a whisper of anxiety.

A bird lands on a branch of the tree
in their backyard,
unseen by either of them.



Jerry Newman © 25Dec07



This is a premonition of things to come, but it seems unfair to imply a judgement on them for not seeing the bird, because apparantly the bird doesn't see them either.

I read this and want the bird to do something sectacularly birdlike (sing, flap its wings, do that cooling thing birds do with their wings on a hot day) and then have them not see it. Otherwise, everyone it seems is doomed, even the bird.

[motherhubbard]

Perhaps it was more of a window into the past. We all, even the bird, are at times consumed by our own goings on to see the simple beauty in the world. I have been that wife at breakfast, and think of all that I missed. But I was seeing all that I could at the moment, and that was enough. I thought the landing was spectacular enough to be here and I don’t think anything else is needed. As far as doomed goes maybe they are just doomed for a short time- Bailey makes fun of my wonder every time the hens give us an egg! There are hundreds of millions of moments of extreme beauty happening every at any given time, but this wife is swept up in her own moment of wonderment- a new bride at her first breakfast after a night like she has never had- the first day of the rest of her life and in that state her own experience supersedes the bird. Nothing could be more magnificent than the potential of this new life.

[Virgil]

Wasn't there a movie just like this setting where James Cagney, I think it was, shoves a grapefruit into the face of the wife? :lol:

[firefangled]

Perhaps it was more of a window into the past. We all, even the bird, are at times consumed by our own goings on to see the simple beauty in the world. I have been that wife at breakfast, and think of all that I missed. But I was seeing all that I could at the moment, and that was enough. I thought the landing was spectacular enough to be here and I don’t think anything else is needed. As far as doomed goes maybe they are just doomed for a short time- Bailey makes fun of my wonder every time the hens give us an egg! There are hundreds of millions of moments of extreme beauty happening every at any given time, but this wife is swept up in her own moment of wonderment- a new bride at her first breakfast after a night like she has never had- the first day of the rest of her life and in that state her own experience supersedes the bird. Nothing could be more magnificent than the potential of this new life.

WOW! You are much better at this than I am. :) Now that you say that, Jerry did say wonderment. I read anxiety only. Thanks for the "snap out of it" slap. :) You are very wise, MH.

[PrinceMyshkin]

This is a premonition of things to come, but it seems unfair to imply a judgement on them for not seeing the bird, because apparantly the bird doesn't see them either.

I meant it, assuredly, as a symbol of things that are beyond her ken or control, but need it foretell that those things will be good or bad? The unknowability of it might stand in contrast to her assumption that the future will always be as domestic and tranquil as this breakfast.


I read this and want the bird to do something sectacularly birdlike (sing, flap its wings, do that cooling thing birds do with their wings on a hot day) and then have them not see it. Otherwise, everyone it seems is doomed, even the bird.

Trouble is, those damned birds will just do whatever the heck they need to do according to their programmes. But that I chose to notice or mention or invent that bird says a lot more about my inner drama than about their future.

[firefangled]

I meant it, assuredly, as a symbol of things that are beyond her ken or control, but need it foretell that those things will be good or bad? The unknowability of it might stand in contrast to her assumption that the future will always be as domestic and tranquil as this breakfast.

Trouble is, those damned birds will just do whatever the heck they need to do according to their programmes. But that I chose to notice or mention or invent that bird says a lot more about my inner drama than about their future.

I see now. A very wise woman pointed out a much better interpretation than my hasty one. You are right, there is nothing to indicate a persistence one way or the other. it is a present moment of wonderment as you say. :)

[AuntShecky]

This reminded me a little of Wallace Stevens's "Sunday Morning" and I felt bad about immediately thinking about
Mae Clarke in Public Enemy -- until I saw that Virgil thought the same thing!

[TheFifthElement]

This also made me think of Stevens, but more Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. I feel compelled to ask what the man is doing, is he equally absorbed in his new partner, or just unobservant? I wonder. Do men think in sentences?

Interesting, and quietly thought provoking.

[Sweets America]

At first I felt sad at the end of this poem, as if the lovers did not enjoy the moment. Then I thought, maybe they are so absorbed in their new life and love that they just don't see the bird. It could be an interpretation too. I think that's what Motherhub is saying?
But, well, my first impression was one of sadness, still. Nice poem. Nice ending.:)

[PrinceMyshkin]

This also made me think of Stevens, but more Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird. I feel compelled to ask what the man is doing, is he equally absorbed in his new partner, or just unobservant? I wonder. Do men think in sentences?

Interesting, and quietly thought provoking.

I don't know what the man was thinking. It didn't occur to me to wonder as this began with a dream fragment in which I saw this woman, felt her to be full of the moment and needed to explore that.

As to whether men think in sentences, no, actually we think in paragraphs, beautifully well-formed paragraphs, and sometimes in entire manifestoes.

[ampoule]

I think I hear comfort and acceptance, which to me, is love, after the wild sex, the hard work, the children, whatever, they just are, together, and together is a very good place to be.

[PrinceMyshkin]

At first I felt sad at the end of this poem, as if the lovers did not enjoy the moment. Then I thought, maybe they are so absorbed in their new life and love that they just don't see the bird. It could be an interpretation too. I think that's what Motherhub is saying?
But, well, my first impression was one of sadness, still. Nice poem. Nice ending.:)

Every moment, like any snapshot, is inherently sad, isn't it? because it is just a moment. Even if it records a happy time it is laced with the sadness of the ephemeral. Happiness cannot be grasped, cannot be arrested; even as we feel it at its fullest, it is already in process of passing.

[TheFifthElement]

As to whether men think in sentences, no, actually we think in paragraphs, beautifully well-formed paragraphs, and sometimes in entire manifestoes.

he he he, that explains a lot! I don't think women think in words at all, more feelings, sensations, impressions...well, I do anyway.

[Sweets America]

Every moment, like any snapshot, is inherently sad, isn't it? because it is just a moment. Even if it records a happy time it is laced with the sadness of the ephemeral. Happiness cannot be grasped, cannot be arrested; even as we feel it at its fullest, it is already in process of passing.

This is so true. But, I don't want happiness to pass, Jerry. I hate it. I know that the very fact of knowing that it will pass is precisely what makes us enjoy the happy moment, but afterwards, it is all so empty. :(

[PrinceMyshkin]

he he he, that explains a lot! I don't think women think in words at all, more feelings, sensations, impressions...well, I do anyway.

One theory I read is that male thinking is linear whereas female is spatial. Could we exist as a species if we had only the one or the other?

[Sweets America]

One theory I read is that male thinking is linear whereas female is spatial. Could we exist as a species if we had only the one or the other?

What I have heard contradicts both TheFifthElement and you, Prince. :D I have heard that women thought in a verbal way and that men thought in a spatial one. This explains why men are usually better with their sense of directions.

[Xcape]

Every moment, like any snapshot, is inherently sad, isn't it? because it is just a moment. Even if it records a happy time it is laced with the sadness of the ephemeral. Happiness cannot be grasped, cannot be arrested; even as we feel it at its fullest, it is already in process of passing.

So true.

Especially for the moments that are so beautiful.

[ampoule]

What I have heard contradicts both TheFifthElement and you, Prince. :D I have heard that women thought in a verbal way and that men thought in a spatial one. This explains why men are usually better with their sense of directions.


That also has its limitations. You could put my husband in any field or forest and he knew exactly where he was and where he needed to go. But at the mall, forget it. He was a lost little puppy. :D

[Sweets America]

That also has its limitations. You could put my husband in any field or forest and he knew exactly where he was and where he needed to go. But at the mall, forget it. He was a lost little puppy. :D

Ehehehe. :p Well actually what I said is just a theory that I heard, and I am really not sure that theories can be applied to everyone. Human beings are more complicated than that. :)

[PrinceMyshkin]

That also has its limitations. You could put my husband in any field or forest and he knew exactly where he was and where he needed to go. But at the mall, forget it. He was a lost little puppy. :D

This reminds me of a long-married couple I know. When the wife had to be away for several days, she cooked and froze every meal he would require in her absence - and then drew a map of the freezer area, indicating where each dish was!

[asthaoo]

A woman sits down for breakfast,
the first of thousands with her new husband:
one-half of a grapefruit, lightly-buttered
brown toast, a soft-boiled egg, coffee.

The space-time continuum moves through
and around them. She isn’t thinking
exactly, not wholly formed sentences
unless love is a sentence or wonderment
or a whisper of anxiety.

A bird lands on a branch of the tree
in their backyard,
unseen by either of them.



Jerry Newman © 25Dec07


I really liked this poem. It felt a little awkward, uncomfortable because of the end which, at first, seems incomplete. However, after reading it a few times, the awkwardness went away and a feeling of curiousity took over. The kind of curiousity that can't really be quenched because the answer is left to my own interpretation.
Like someone else said, very thought-provoking. Nice.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I really liked this poem. It felt a little awkward, uncomfortable because of the end which, at first, seems incomplete. However, after reading it a few times, the awkwardness went away and a feeling of curiousity took over. The kind of curiousity that can't really be quenched because the answer is left to my own interpretation.
Like someone else said, very thought-provoking. Nice.

Thank you for just the sort of reaction I would like readers to have, both the initial sense that it was awkward or incomplete or maybe that the ending was arbitary, and of course the curiousity that remained with you. I could of course have provided any number of other more conclusive endings but I felt I had gone as far as I could or should in making assumptions about that woman at that moment.