 |
 |
that opening is the greatest I've read in a long time, it sounds like Ted Hughes at his best. attributing traits like knowledge to something as categorically faceless as a spider is always a joy, but not always a well-executed one. this is a stunner. there's a real disgust in the dankly maternal imagery of the belly, it's grotesque in the extreme but in such a minimal way. "the teeth of love" is utterfly descriptive. "sitting alone" is good, the sitter is ambiguous. "she arrived, rearing" is *terrifying*! I shivered, then grinned at "...and I was not surprised". a rearing spider is tiny, after all. the repetition of the end reminds me of Plath (Hughes & Plath in one email, hoo ha), there's the same poised, tragically evil tone. you reaffirm my opinion of your talent with each poem Caleb. KS On 11/04/07, Caleb Cluff <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > The Spider > > after Paula Rego > > The spider is sudden, like a vowel. Her knowledge of longing is > complete. > The great grey fur of her belly is warm as new day, > her mouth beset with the teeth of love. > > I waited for her, sitting alone. She arrived, rearing, and I was not > surprised. > She came as an old friend might - penetrative, stabbing - > but her fingers were soft. Talk to me, lover. Tell me your fears. > In the night I will bring you globules of silk > > and you will know. Your bedhead is stone, you say. > But you are a child, and will imagine such things. > I will give you my last skin to wear, to wear, to wear. > > Caleb Cluff > Majorca 11/4/07 > > > ============================================================================== > The information contained in this email and any attachment is confidential and > may contain legally privileged or copyright material. It is intended only for > the use of the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this > email, you are not permitted to disseminate, distribute or copy this email or > any attachments. If you have received this message in error, please notify the > sender immediately and delete this email from your system. The ABC does not > represent or warrant that this transmission is secure or virus free. Before > opening any attachment you should check for viruses. The ABC's liability is > limited to resupplying any email and attachments > ============================================================================== >