My Astrological Moon Calendar and Planting Guide
shows it exactly halfway between full and dark —
so I imagine this to be a time of perfect balance.
Anyway it’s Spring. The afternoon is warm.
All the work is done. There are new sheets on the bed.
We kick the cats out of the bedroom and make love.
Long, lazy love lasting for hours; leisurely and light.
His skin is clean and smooth, sweet-smelling.
I nestle in, we stroke each other all over.
Afterwards he declares it our best loving ever.
‘You have a short memory,’ I say. ‘Some other times....’
There is something to be said for the slow descent
towards the dark, and the way the focus narrows in.
As the time of a life cycle shortens, moments lengthen.
‘In the last quarter, the movement is toward integration.’
Moon journal: 22
Submitted for dVerse Open Link Night #10
Included in the book, THREE CYCLES OF THE MOON (a collaboration with Jennie Fraine and Helen Patrice).
Shared, approx 14 years later, with Poets and Storytellers United for Friday Writings #183: A Perfect Afternoon.
Submitted for dVerse Open Link Night #10
Included in the book, THREE CYCLES OF THE MOON (a collaboration with Jennie Fraine and Helen Patrice).
Shared, approx 14 years later, with Poets and Storytellers United for Friday Writings #183: A Perfect Afternoon.
Beautiful and romantic, as I would expect from a passionate crone! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherry, I'm glad you find it so. x
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely! Sensual, steamy, love.
ReplyDeleteKick the cats out of the room, how mean..haha passionate write for sure.
ReplyDeleteI'm fascinated by the final stanza. Do the moments lengthen always, I wonder, or only when one applies focus, pays attention?
ReplyDeletenice...hot write...love me some loving...and its best to have a short memory when it comes to love...all the reason to remake the memories...smiles.
ReplyDeleteThanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteDaydreamertoo, I'm glad I conveyed that.
Pat, the cats have the freedom of the bedroom most times, see next poem: http://passionatecrone.blogspot.com/2011/09/resting-together.html
Good question, Mark. I was trying to imply that there is more leisure, or at least a more flexible schedule.
Brian, that's a nice thought!
Your poor cat having to kick him out of the room this is wonderful and so full of love thanks you for sharing
ReplyDeletehttp://gatelesspassage.com/2011/09/20/the-fait-of-our-lands/#comment-1018
beautifully done! v difficult to write on this topic without cliche and overly flowery language... kudos. Wonderful phrasing. Plenty of aural device but no strong end-rhyme which works just great.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, romantic story Rosemary..... I remember afternoon sex, it was before the kids though... it was great... it seems the world was full of cares back then with career and school and busy, busy busy... but not those moments... I don't remember the hectic parts when I think of those moments... I got stuck on the cats here Maryanne... I don't know why.... it just struck me funny that if there is one animal on this earth that could not possibly care less about our manner of dress or current state of sexual position, then it is a cat... It just seems to me that having sex in front of them would do nothing more than perturb them more than they already appear to be perturbed.... I don't imagine getting kicked out of the bedroom was a welcome thing either though.... My mother was born and raised in Melbourne, a different name by birth but raised by Steinwarts.... Lovely poem....
ReplyDeleteDear people, thanks for all the kind comments, and please don't worry too much about the cats. They aren't fussed by lovemaking, true - but they take up a lot of space on the bed and want to jon in any cuddles going. They didn't complain, though, just migrated to the nearest armchairs. :)
ReplyDeletePS johnallenrichter, afternoon sex is also a possibility once the kids have grown up and left!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine a spring or ANY season at our house when ALL the work is don!! :) But clean sheets -- once or twice a week! :)
ReplyDeletejust wonderful. Well, not just wonderful, but fun, passionate and sweet too.
Thanks, Jannie. And you're quite right of course — only the immediate tasks of that morning had been done. :)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have shared this wonderful poem again - the moon is a magical beauty - and wonderful to love - Jae
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jae. I'm glad you're glad!
Deletequite passionate...
ReplyDeleteQuite. *Grin.*
DeleteSpring fever. Cats have fun too. Get it while you can, rain comes tomorrow
ReplyDelete*Chuckle!*
DeleteSuch a passionate and wistful piece. It reminds me to make the most of the time we have.
ReplyDeleteIndeed yes. We didn't know then, but on that date he had a little less than a year to live. And for the late stages of that year, he was incapacitated. Making the most of one's time not only gives one the experience, but also the cherished memories. (Of course, making poetry of the experience helps with the memories.)
DeleteThank you for treating us once more ... I am reminded of those steamy love-making sessions on Summer Saturday afternoons ~~ thankfully the memories are intact. There are days my body isn't. LOL
ReplyDeleteHa ha, 14 years on, neither is my body. Or so I suspect. It's not an option now, in any case.
DeleteLovely afternoon memory but sounds far too energetic at this stage of( my life at least)
ReplyDeleteDon't want the neighbours calling the ambulance !
'Long, lazy ... leisurely and light' – you will note I do not mention any vigorous exertion. One adapts.
DeleteWell, some afternoons I suppose...cheers!
ReplyDeletePK
Not often enough to take for granted, anyway.
DeleteA perfect afternoon, indeed. Isn't funny how when we were young we thought that "older people" stopped making love. Foolish youth, wise old age - new wine vs mellow wine...
ReplyDeleteGreat comment, thank you.
DeleteA passionate, lovely poem. I love the slow descent to dark.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sarah.
Delete