Caliban

Posted on 15 Jun 2016 by

23 Comments

(1) The sculpture

Ugly with sin and savage as an infidel
seed of a sorceress in league with a devil
yet lord of this Island by a mother’s will
she who’d ask the moon at times to make the tides stand still

Outcast illusionist stole the stony citadel
fatherly, masterly, held me in his thrall
commander of windfall, rainfall and sea squall
all his earthly whims I run and fetch and crawl

Pale-skinned seashell, Miranda demoiselle
long limbed,  half-sister, softer than gazelle
I bring pig nuts, crabs and muscatel
dalliance dispelled as sibling bagatelle

Snake in the grass, that elemental Ariel
reported a rapacious grasp when the apple fell
vile violation, repellant as the stench of hell
desire for mortal lineage, the breaking of the spell

~~~

(ii) the sculptor

Out of a stony heart and devilry
your ugliness was chiseled
ears of an ass, thrice mastered
and still chained to Prospero
upholding the weights of shame
your island nature castaway
I’ve made you muscled as a man
with downcast eyes – such a one as myself
still crying to dream again

Notes:
Allusions to Browning’s epic poem: Caliban upon Setebos – needs time to read and for further understanding there’s Academia analysis

breathing life into the sculpture and posted for today’s prompt ‘Chisel me a conversation’ at dVerse

Category: poemsTags: , , , , ,

23 Comments on “Caliban”

  1. I do love the two voices of the sculptor here.. there is something so special in that relationship, but most of all I like the third stanza breathing a purpose and maybe a threat to the sculpture…

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    • For a while the two voices clashed and held up this poem til I found a resolution for both to be heard – Miranda a pivotal figure in Caliban’s downfall I think

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  2. Love this whole piece, Laura, but I am particularly struck by this:
    “I’ve made you muscled as a man
    with downcast eyes – such a one as myself
    still crying to dream again”

    Just wonderful.

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    • thank you – so glad you enjoyed this with a soupçon of Shakespeare & Browning in there

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  3. oh Laura, love who you’ve taken on the two voices here! No one else has done that — great take with the photo and the prompt! So glad you decided to have a go at it — MUCH more than just a go at it — really enjoyed! 🙂

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    • It was your hint to bring it alive that helped me see the sculptor and sculpted 😀 – what a great prompt

      Liked by 1 person

    • do not often use rhyme as too challenging & constraining so thank you for reassuring words Viv

      Liked by 1 person

    • thank you again Sanaa (but wish your profile was not attached to FB as am not a social mediaite and would like to go straight to your blog)

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    • it was like hearing two garbled conversations til I gave them both space to speak – thanks Sarah

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I admire the idea of two voices speaking, from the sculpture and the artist. Well done Laura.

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    • am reading an existentialist book on photography which emphasises subject-object as one so guess that is where the voices came from Grace

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  8. Oh, two voices in one great piece. You’ve written this excellently. I especially love how you’ve written the voice of the sculpture, so eloquently creative and imaginative. 🙂

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    • the sculptor spoke quickly and readily to me so am pleased you liked the words

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    • I like your notion of appeal – now I hear that in both voices

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    • many thank Sumana – alliteration is never far from my tongue 😉

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  11. Thanks Diane but that is gardening .com company which seems to have taken up the co.uk blog spot

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