I am trying to mimic the way you fold
clothes. The common sense of edge
meeting edge, simply.
On cold kitchen tiles
I kneel and tap out a tattoo that is supposed
to sound like your silver
toe rings, and the amused tinkling
of your glass bangles.
I make coffee your way. Counting the spoons
of sugar, biting my lip at burnt milk. I bathe twice
daily and smile at the mirror. Wrap
my sandwiches in foil, wipe the tops
of tables, hang towels next to wash basins.
On the streets, I pause to pick knots of flowers
that would match your mood.
I paint the walls of our house with my eyes
closed. Thinking of maroon moons of henna
and nails tinted sunset pink. Of seven equal
circles, and how your hair flows when
un braided. How your eyes wander
when un tethered. At night, I close
all the windows, all the doors. And draw chalk
lines across the threshold. I am copying
your careful love.
Anuradha Vijayakrishnan lives and writes in Chennai, India, pretending to be a corporate professional while also pretending to be a writer. It is an interesting life.
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21 Responses to “TO MY BRIDE • by Anuradha Vijayakrishnan”
Comments
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March 3rd, 2009 at 3:40 am
This is very pretty. I like it a lot. What a sense of love!
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:34 am
I love this. There’s such a feeling of simple tranquility from the mundane actions of the narrator that becomes so much more when these actions are inspired by love.
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:59 am
The lovely rhythm of the way intimacy is found in the details of a shared life is displayed here with great care. How the narrator mirrors his wife is quite touching. Well done!
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:15 am
A lovely poem which follows the eye movements of a man admiring the motions of his bride as she brings her caring beauty to their home.
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:16 am
To me the poise of that final was remarkable:
your careful love
The simple beauty of a well chosen phrase well postitioned, resonates so powerfully with all that has gone before. Beautiful work.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:18 am
A beautiful declaration of love…
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:50 am
More of this please.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:06 am
Robin, Kathleen, Angel, Roberta, sjhigbee : Hello and thank you for how you’ve responded to this poem. Made my day and night!
Oonah, Thank you!
Steve : Thanks, wish all editors thought like you!!
Cheers, Anuradha
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Such a precise and delicate focus – think I’ve fallen for her too!
March 3rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
This is really beautiful!
March 3rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
What a delightful heart tug
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Well done, Anuradha.
Great voice.
–dj
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
I liked this piece.
Nicely written.
Thanks.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Hi Anuradha
Enjoyed the poem, really nice. Newly married I think the narrator is, right?
Best
fehmida
March 4th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
What a wonderful tribute of love–very colorful and touching, as well as we–written. If I were the young bride, I’d treasure this all of my life!
March 4th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
*well-written
March 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Barbara, Amy, Gray,Brotee…really appreciate what you have said..smiling away
dj…thanks, i’ll treasure that!
Sharon…That is a lovely thing you’ve said.
Fehmida..Hi! pleasant seeing you here. Of course you could take it that way but reading always adds possibilities, don’t you think?
-Anuradha
April 6th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Dear annu
loved it.
April 28th, 2009 at 1:17 am
Hi Annu
Should the last line, “Your careful love” to be interpreted as a signing off gesture?
Because the sentence “I am copying your careful love” doesn’t make sense.. if it were a sentence it should have been “I am copying my careful love”, correct?
Also, why is it titled “To my bride”? it sounds so much like someone who has lost his love and his preserving the memories!!
Cheers
Sweety
June 8th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Sweety, Thanks for your comments and inerpretation. I would just mention that the last line refers to a sort of mimicry …that happens between people in love
June 30th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
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