I'm like a pencil;
sometimes sharp,
most days
well-rounded,
other times
dull or
occasionally
broken.
Still I write.
j.g. lewis
is a writer/photographer in Toronto.
Month: April 2017
Men with obligations set by decree, juggling
unyielding schedules of that which they must,
and choices made. Biding time in serviceable
downtown cocktail lounges, enjoying neither
atmosphere or clientele. Patrons, of common
trait, finding consolation from the noise of life.
Well-educated, yet not wise enough to admit
mistakes. Whiskey, here, and a misplaced sense
of company. Stuck between several homes they
occupy, but feel comfort in neither. Displaced.
Waiting. Weak. A customary phone call from
a young son who wonders, or the mistress who
has stolen him away. Are you coming home?
04/18/17 ©2016 j.g. lewis
Should a tear
mark your cheek, if a lash or
random memory becomes
stuck in your eye, please
use my handkerchief
to wipe away residue
of days gone by.
Whether neatly pressed or
in its wearied, wrinkled state
feel free to use as required.
My handkerchief
is soft, can absorb sweat
or sorrow, and has
been there before.
As have I.
Unlike other options,
it is not disposable and
is strong. Yes, it has been
through the wringer,
though washed up
it still has a purpose,
like me. It cleans up well
and is not defined
by stains of the past.
It has experience dealing
with mess and misfortune,
there for you to use
if needed. I will offer,
or if you ask.
04/17/17 © 2017 j.g.lewis
Posted on April 16, 2017 by j.g.lewis // 2 Comments
Her poems have always offered a glimpse into the questioning mind, and there have been biographies and textbook studies, but the new movie A Quiet Passion now adds more clarity into the life of Emily Dickinson.
I’m not a big fan of period pieces, but Dickinson has long been a poetry “crush” of mine. I recognized, and related to, the loneliness of the poems when I was first introduced in about Grade 7.
I knew little of her life, then, but was in awe of the complexities of the themes, dedicated structure and, for the most part, brevity of her work.
The movie, beautifully filmed with gorgeous period costuming, paints the picture we know of the American poet’s reclusive life, and shows her uncompromising style as it comes to life on her handwritten page.
Cynthia Nixon plays the role so well, the dialogue is true to the times, and the script is more than sprinkled with Dickinson’s eloquent verse.
Dickinson (whose fame never arrived until after her death) lived a quiet life, but a life worth celebrating. A Quiet Passion does this so well.
j.g.l.
