Penelope Poem

I SORTED CLOTH AND SCISSORS,NEEDLE, THREAD,
A
THINKING TO AMUSE MYSELF
CROSS-STITCH, SILVER SILK–
BUT FOUND A LIFETIME'S INDUSTRY INSTEAD.
I SEWED A GIRL
UNDER A SINGLE STAR –
RUNNING AFTER CHILDHOOD'S BOUNCING BALL.
I CHOSE BETWEEN THREE GREENS FOR THE GRASS;
A SMOKY PINK A SHADOW'S GREY.
TO SHOW A SNAPDRAGON GARGLING A BEE
......
I THREADED WALNUT BROWN FOR A TREE,
MY THIMBLE LIKE AN ACORN PUSHING UP THROUGH UMBER SOIL.
I W R A P P E D
BENEATH THE SHADE
A M A I D E N
I N A
D E E P
E M B
R A C E
WITH HEROISM'S BOY
AND LOST MYSELF COMPLETELY
IN A WILD EMBROIDERY OF LOVE, LUST AND LESSONS LEARNT
AND WATCHED HIM SAIL AWAY
INTO THE LOOSE GOLD STITCHING OF THE SUN.
AND WHEN THE OTHERS CAME TO TAKE HIS PLACE,
DISTURB MY PEACE,
I PRAYED FOR TIME.
I WORE A WIDOW'S FACE, KEPT MY HEAD DOWN,
DID MY WORK BY THE DAY,
AT NIGHT UNPICKED IT.
I KNEW WHICH HOUR OF THE DARK
THE MOON WOULD START TO FRAY,
I STITCHED IT.
GREY THREADS AND BROWN
PURSUED MY NEEDLE'S LEAPING FISH TO FORM A RIVER THAT WOULD NEVER REACH THE SEA.
I TRIED IT.
I WAS PICKING OUT
THE SMILE OF A WOMAN AT THE CENTER OF THIS WORLD
SELF-CONTAINED,
ABSORBED
CONTENT