Not sure how accessible this one is
Eyes follow arms skywards; swan dive
into the sequence of movement that flows
around and around, saluting the sun,
seeking the dull exhaustion
that swamps phantom memories of your tongue,
fingers, hips, lips.
I rest in
downward dog,
searching for alignment,
head hanging loose, learning anew
the contours of strong thighs,
the feeling of tendons stretched tight.
Heels graze the floor, arms shake
under the tension. I hold
the pose long enough to let salt prickle
along the slender curve of my spine
and tremors creep
along taut calves
but control over quivering muscles is not enough
to free the mind from thoughts
of the sweet sins of your flesh.
|
yoga?
Written by fellpony (1728 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
| It isn't something I am familiar with so perhaps I am reading this wrongly. But, I liked the imagery and the sensation of trying to use physical exertion to blot out an emotional hunger. |
Written by Talisker (1331 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
Hmmm...was fond of a bit of dogging too in my youth Sweet Elli 
I'm picturing all sorts of stange contortions here - an excercise in showing off how pliable you are in verse - or a lover's lament for a felow contortionist?
This produced a frisson of excitement in the visualisation, but would probably mean a lot more to fellow yogies.
Oli  |
Written by Phil (6963 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
Dogging Oli? I thought it was too cold up North for that sort of thing.
Visualised all sorts of things. Perhaps might help if I was familiar withn type of exercise.(?) Like Fellpony, I thought it a good idea showing how the phyysical can blot out (at least temporarily) the emotional. Didn't quite work for you, always does for me. Mind you, I'm not surprised if it is Yoga you're describing. All that time striking a pose, you've got to think about something. Try squash, you;ve no time to think about anything.
Liked the edd and flow of this one. (I think I'll write my own 'Language for poetic criticism' dictionary.)
Phil.
|
Namaste
Written by fellpony (1728 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
| I went and looked it up - Elli, that title is masterly; I had not realised how ambiguous / all embracing "namaste" is - both hello and goodbye and many shades of meaning in between. Thank you for the education. |
Written by ellipinnock (1790 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
What I'm generally thinking is, 'How much bloody longer to I have to stay in this position and will my hamstrings snap before that point comes.'
'Pliable' - don't make me laugh!!! The fact that I was proud of being able to touch my toes last week says everything I think.
FP - wondered whether anyone would notice the ambiguity in the title so hooray
Thanks to all for the feedback
Elli |
I Salute the Light of Life within you Al
Written by Josie (2847 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
| The light in me sees and honours the light in you also Elli. |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
I've been doing yoga since 1988, off and on, so I got this right away. Because the dog position (oh, stop it Oli!) is one I really hate, this struck a chord right away, but I know that people who have not done yoga will be perplexed by this, as you have no doubt found.
And of course you are never really free from thoughts of the flesh, or at least I am not. Other people doing yoga always look so virtuous, so transported. I find myself thinking of my digestion, my trembling ankles and feeble wrists.
I really enjoyed this poem, Elli. |
Written by JourneyAtNight (318 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
I was thinking yoga too, the title giving me a hint. I've been meaning to take up yoga classes for ages now...but that would mean getting off my backside so it keeps getting put off :D
This flows very nicely - it fits the subject well, and I loved the last stanza. Great stuff.
Best wishes,
E |
Hi Elli
Written by jean.day (2369 comments posted) 18th February 2007 |
I knew what Namaste meant, and agree that doing yoga is not the greatest thing for taking your mind off other things. Makes my bones ache just thinking about all those contortions.
I like the thought of salt prickling. |
Written by no1butClo (341 comments posted) 2nd May 2007 |
Absolutely love the first stanza, kind of wish you'd carried on with a more physical, sexual abstract tone, but the rest of it still really works. Thing is, the first one is all abstract and out-of-body/mind, which is what I find yoga induces...
really intriguing [sp?] piece elli, I like
clobo x |
sh1t
Written by no1butClo (341 comments posted) 2nd May 2007 |
| ...it's not yoga, is it? |
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