TWOFER
Two in one
Joined at the skin
within
Yin/Yang twins with
opposing forces:
One, golden innocence
the endless blossoming
of girl to young lady to
woman to mom to
crone
The other, haunted by
events time will not erase,
rusted razors
The miracle is
they both survive
the chaos
One diary; two lives
The perfectionist clips
fraying edges of her life;
her trademark, a lack
of deceit.
The dangerous silverfish
dives endlessly into
threadbare carpet on
the walls, only to emerge
unspooling, unruly,
unnervingly unorthodox
One seeks applause
The other, a pause,
if only to seek a blank sheet,
a mulligan, a cosmic do-over
(and over, and over)
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, “Get listed.” Huge list of words, and I managed to use quite a few. Thanks, Fireblossom! Also at my poetic hangout, Poets United. I was too late for dverse Open Mic Night. Drat! Finally, for Trifecta, “survive.”
RE: Life… Finally back among the functional, for the most part. The two in one of this piece are, of course, Amy Before She Knew and Amy After Diagnosis and Realization that her youth was stolen. Both are good people with frenetic days, bad tempers, and other challenges. Many thanks to all who have been sending good wishes during my hiatus. Happy New Year and Peace, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
A triumphant piece of writing! You really got under my skin with this one! I’m glad the butterfly you has emerged from the chrysalis!
Vx
vivinfrance
I should have said RE-emerged!
Sharp Little Pencil
I know. My chrysalis has a revolving door!!!
Roger Green
I think we’re all a bit dual in nature; I sure feel it.
Sharp Little Pencil
In many ways, Roger, for sure. That includes the “standard” male and female attributes… also in voice: the “hanging out” voice vs. the “business voice.”
Pearl Ketover Prilik
“One seeks applause
The other a pause”.
Wonderful lines, in a wonderful poem…
brian miller
happy new year…good to see you amy….really like that last stanza as it speaks volumes to me….
Sharp Little Pencil
Glad to be here, Brian. The last stanza spilled out of me as I was writing. Always intrigued with the Mulligan… thanks for your kindness. A.
kaykuala
Beautiful write Amy! There were many words to choose from. I got overwhelmed. I gave it a pass. You did very well with it! Good to have you back, Ma’am!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Hank! There were a lot of words, but I don’t think we had to use them all. Still, like some Wordles, it can be daunting, for sure. Nice to see your name in the comments. Thanks for your supportive nature. A
Laurie Kolp
Amazing, Amy. I especially like:
The dangerous silverfish
dives endlessly into
threadbare carpet on
the walls, only to emerge
unspooling, unruly,
unnervingly unorthodox
I’m glad you’re back.
Sharp Little Pencil
THe word “silvery” caught me – we once had to get rid of a rug that had silverfish, and that led me to a carpeted wall, quite like a rubber room, which is where I almost ending up this time around, so to say I’m glad I’m back is an understatement. THanks, as always, for your loving support. Peace. A.
Mama Pajama
Happy New Year, Amy – glad to see you back. thanks for this piece.
Ella
Brilliant Amy! I want a cosmic do over~ I love how you forged this view ;D
Happy New Year~
Sharp Little Pencil
I just wanted to work the word “mulligan” into the poem, and the cosmic do-over had to follow, just in case a reader didn’t play golf. Not that I play golf… but we watch it on TV! Thanks for your good wishes, Ella. Amy
Sarav
Hi Amy!! So glad to have you back–nice to find you there in my inbox again 🙂 My dad is doing better too. Feels good.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sara, good news about your dad. And yes, I had a slight med change that seems to be working, thank God. New Year’s Day was a meltdown, and the day after, I saw both my mental health providers… Now, about health care for ALL… (don’t get me started, LOL) See you at your blog, Amy
Lindy Lee
Hello Babe, your contribution here on WordPress has been terrific. So glad you’re still here continuing with profound poetry like this “TWOFER”…
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for this, Lindy. I’m so glad my brain is reasonably functional once more. All I am able to do is keep house and write poetry… and when the poetry isn’t there, the housework really becomes drudgery, only more depressing. Thanks for caring about my work and about me. Coming to see you now, A
kimnelsonwrites
Do you ever paint the picture, tell the tale! Another gem, Amy. Should be part of a collection. Glad you are back. Missed you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, I have been thinking about a chapbook having to do with the many ways of being a girl or woman in America… might be risky, as it would be quite adult… hmmm. Thanks, honey. Amy
El Guapo
Wonderfully written!
And again, I’m amazed by your rhythym.
Great to see you, Amy! Hope the holidays weren’t all just work.
Sharp Little Pencil
The holidays were a lot of work, but there is always room for joy… except when depression rears its unwelcome little noggin, which happens every year. It’s common for those of us from alcoholic or otherwise hellish homes to be blue at major holidays. But the sight of children at the service I played piano for made up for it. They were all about the manger. Thanks, Guap! Coming over now. Peace, Amy
ManicDdaily
The silverfish adds a whole different dimension here. You use the words wonderfully well, to tell a vivid story. k.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much. As I said above, we had a rug thrown away because it was rife with silverfish, which led to the carpet on the wall, an allusion to the padded room. Wanted to use “silvery” from the prompt, but what the hell, right? Coming your way now, AMy
hedgewitch (@hedge_witch)
Great poem of self-examination–I especially like the last two stanzas, and the applause/a pause rhyme.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Hedge, and good to hear from you. That line is derived from an old egotist musician I used to call, “Rebel Without Applause,” LOL. See you at your blog! Amy
Kerry O'Connor
I love your response to the list of words – this is totally unique and stands on its own merits.
Many thanks for your visit to my blog – I love the story of the finch that stole your hair!
Hannah Gosselin
Oh, Amy…connected indeed. There’s so much in this poem that is authentic and speaks so creatively-straight from the heart. The entire poem is brimming with vivid images and ideas, Amy, just gorgeous. I especially love the silverfish metaphor and that you put the carpet suddenly on the wall really changed the perspective in my mind…really cool. I find myself in the battle of applause and pause so often…kind of a trap and at the same time a challenge to let go. I love the idea of the cosmic makeover and the over and over repetition works so well…I eaves dropped on your comments…the revolving door of the chrysalis…I feel like this, too. Constantly gaining and loosing grip on my own personal battles. Any way, sorry to talk your ear off…I appreciate your visit and I will hold you in my thoughts…sending vibes of balance and hope. ❤ to you. ~Hannah
Mary
Amy, so glad to see you back blogging again; and what a terrific comeback this poem is. One diary….two lives indeed. And they both survive. And your writing is testimony to that fact, which is a VERY positive thing. Wonderful use of the list of words; and may all of your battles in the new year be small ones! Belated Happy New Year to you.
Sherry Blue Sky
“a cosmic do-over”. Oh, I wish, too! We may have waited for this poem for a bit, but oh was it ever worth the wait. And Amy, the wonder of it is that any of us survive. This life aint for sissies!!!! Way to shine!
dani
one of your strongest traits {it seems to me} is survival! not a bad thing to have.
i hope the new year brings you good health, contentment, laughter and love.
♥
she writes
How true this is!
“Every life is precious, has
potential to create. There is
no such thing as a just war,
and no war ever creates peace.
It simply withdraws armaments.”
Dick
This works so well, Amy. Skilfully woven indeed form what you were given.