Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Judging Game



watching them with her orange eyes
looking through their glass house
she opens the window
for fresh air          

her clipped wings
grow with the lilting song
“Don’t listen,” they say,
“…the luring…”  with that head-shake and tsk-tsk
of controlling, condescending tone

but she is sick with love
from their poisoned, pressure well
too eager to drink
when she’d been wilting

holding the beat of
their ridiculous freudisms
in her head on bloodied neck
she whispers “jung may have more substance for me
anyway,” so—

from the place where stained glass
is beautiful again
she waves goodbye
with tar-dipped feathers in her teeth  


Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

48 comments:

  1. Oh yes, there are so many different kinds of games people play...including mind games. A depthful poem of intensity here.

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    1. Ah yes, the head game. Thanks Mary--always appreciate your thoughts! :)

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  2. what an incredible visual feast! Wonderful:-)

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  3. Both visual and emotional. Nice piece.

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  4. Very clever take ~ That last stanza makes me ponder on her next move ~

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    1. I like the way you think. Thanks very much Heaven :)

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  5. Your poem is complex and a wonderful read!

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  6. My favorite part: "from the place where stained glass is beautiful again she waves goodbye."

    Well done.

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    1. That's my favorite part too Lori. Thank you for commenting!

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  7. nice....like the build...the clipped wings, glass house...the poisoned well....each one adds another layer...very nice...

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    1. It was a bit of an abstract write for me--always encouraging to have your thoughts. Thanks Brian :)

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  8. So many complex layers here. A word painting for sure.

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    1. Peggy, thank you for your visit and your thoughtful comment.

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  9. what an escape! it did not seem like an easy task, but a little fresh air can do wonders.

    a really intriguing piece.

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    1. whew! I almost titled it Escape From The Judging Game. Glad you came by RMP, thanks for commenting!

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  10. Wonderful images and the
    outrage is capturing. Really enjoyed your piece.

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    1. Pixordia- thanks for your generous words--really appreciate it!

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  11. Fresh air... yes, lets hope it calmed the outrage :)

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    1. Indeed...thank you for coming by and for your comment!

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  12. as if tar dipped this clung to me and i liked

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  13. Tar dipped feathers in her teeth. Clipped wings. Tsk Tsk.
    Judging others is a nasty busy body pastime some people make a habit of.
    Great poem! Says a LOT!

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    1. True indeed...thanks so much Daydreamertoo! Appreciate your considerate words :)

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  14. The manipulative games...quite familiar with them.

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  15. It is hard to get back up again..beaten down by the judgement of others.. perhaps it is a tired thought but we are always our harshest critic..jae

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    1. I think you're right jae--thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.

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  16. This is just gorgeous. This ending is stunning:
    "from the place where stained glass
    is beautiful again
    she waves goodbye
    with tar-dipped feathers in her teeth"

    "from a place where stained glass/is beautiful again" will haunt me today.
    Excellent work.
    de
    whimsygizmo.wordpress.com

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    1. ...free from the humiliating judgment...thanks De for your compliment! And I love your blogger pic btw.

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  17. Ow. Ouch. Open that window and leave no matter what is in your teeth!

    " but she is sick with love
    from their poisoned, pressure well
    too eager to drink
    when she’d been wilting"

    Happily she is beyond the age when they can send her to her room and force her to soak up the game.

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    1. Heck yes! Thanks Susan, like the way you think. Thanks for commenting!

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  18. A stunning poem, both in its imagery and emotional content. The mental picture of those tar-dipped feathers will stick with me for some time! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Poetry Jam this week!

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    1. Mary- thanks so much! Great to be able to contribute at the site--thanks for your prompt! So appreciate your comment.

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  19. she waves goodbye
    with tar-dipped feathers in her teeth ...dang...this is tight

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    1. That bite of tar and feathering humiliation--thanks for commenting on it! :)

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  20. 'from the place where stain glass is beautiful again'
    that is a heart thrusing verse.
    a wonderfully fairy tale poem.

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  21. Quite a layered piece, had to read twice. But I think I get it. Or maybe I don't. But does it really matter? Good poetry like this is all about feelings and images anyway, the places it leads you to.

    I like the stained glass part a lot.

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    1. Glad you found something you like--thanks for stopping by Jannie :)

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  22. A complete marriage of word, image, and form. Complex but entirely readable. I think this is one of the best poems I've read in a good while. I hope the narrator can succeed in fleeing from guilt and repression into the freedom of individuality!

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    1. Nico- I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I was unsure of posting it because of the complex symbolism and layered meanings. I love your encouraging words--thank you very much!

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  23. loved reading your "game" though i wouldn't want to play it. {smile}

    thank you for participating at Poetry Jam!

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    1. I'm glad you did! It's fun to be able to participate on the site. Thank you!

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Thank you for your thoughts!