19 April 2010

Tuesday poem: Theodora's Adventures through the Looking Glass

Theodora’s Adventures through the Looking Glass

i threw myself
head first
into the mirror
i did not look
before i leapt
i watched myself
in awe

i dropped feathers
and daisies
behind me as i
walked
so i could be followed
so i could find my
way back when
the time came
but, miscalculating the
wind velocity,
the flowers and feathers
blew away, away

and so now i am stuck here
where ever this is
with you
who-ever you are


For my Tuesday poem this week I’m back to me. This poem is from my first book, Abstract Internal Furniture (2001). It’s one of a bunch I wrote about a character called Theodora, who was a kind of shapeshifting everywoman. Those of you who know me well, and who have been at parties with me, may recognise that I too drop feathers behind me when I’m wearing a feather boa, which I find, sadly, I do less frequently these days. In any case, it was an inspiration.

For other Tuesday poems, visit the Tuesday Poem blog, where you'll find the 'official' Tuesday poem, plus links to many others: http://tuesdaypoem.blogspot.com/.

5 comments:

Mary McCallum said...

Lovely. Lovely.

melissashook said...

I love the miscalculating the wind velocity...
how often we do that...
thank you...

Kay Cooke said...

Feathers and daisies in the wind - what a lovely image.

Helen Rickerby said...

Thanks very much for your comments! I also am quite fond of the 'miscalculating the wind velocity' line - makes me sound a bit scientific.

Penelope said...

I'm taken aback when Theodora suddenly turns and sees me, the apologetic reader whoever I am, following her — poor substitute for a boa feather. Nifty!