the peloponnesian war
lasted twenty eight years
the same as our stony silence
today we spoke for the first time
the walls cracked slightly
enough to let a sliver of light in
slightly surreal
talking to you
not quite a stranger
but hardly familiar at all
i could feel your discomfort
at not being shown the due deference
you are accustomed to
your irritation at
my rhetoric peppered
with hyperbole and directness
you really HAVE forgotten me
i was the wife
who would not bow
the picture goes well with the words....
ReplyDeleteThe picture is called 'stand off ' which i thought appropriate for this poem:)
ReplyDeletewalls cracked slightly
ReplyDeleteenough to let a sliver of light in..lovely line.
If he wanted bows he should employed a servant or actor. There seems to have been a fault in his education! Clearly silence is not always golden.
ReplyDeleteA strong woman definitely wouldn't bow - she would also woman up and be the first to break the silence i reckon ;)
ReplyDeleteNah...let sleeping dogs lie is the best way...leave
Deletepandora's box closed...those Greeks knew a thing or two:)
That they did.. Do you recall any mythological advice for troublesome neighbours! ;)
DeleteThe only thing I can recall at the moment is the trojan horse. You can send one as a gift and hide inside with bows and arrows:)
DeleteAlice is heading for the papier-mache ;)
DeleteWow ! you captured the picture with words so clearly and vice versa. well purged !
ReplyDeleteSuch a powerful write!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, this is fantastic....the silence that lasted as long as the war......then after such a long time, the umbrage that he wasnt being shown due deference. Hooray for the wife who will not bow.
ReplyDeleteI really like this poem up against that photo. It adds so much additional depth to the piece. Nice juxtaposition.
ReplyDeleteEven in the jaws you find your voice - a woman of strength...
ReplyDeleteWell said!!!!
ReplyDeleteZQ
Quite a story!
ReplyDelete