In a story recently I used the phrase "black shine," and most members of my writing group didn't like it because they had no idea what it meant or how to visualize it. But for me, the phrase is evocative and sensuous. It creates plenty of clear images for me. Anyway, I decided to try to capture the meaning of it for me in a poem, and below is a piece of that. It's not done yet. Who knows when it will be.
Black
Shine
In
the black shine
she
waited with Wendigo eyes
and
a pillow smile.
Wind
had curled her hair,
had rouged her cheeks.
Gin
had painted her lips.
The
fingernails that scraped
her
silks
spelled
my name in Braille.
Black
shine, dark soul
I
am lost
10 comments:
It's an evil glow?
Oh, I love this! Those Wendigo eyes... Makes me think of your stories in "Midnight in Rosary"
And "black shine" is perfectly normal... :-) :-) :-)
"Shine" has been a slur for "Black" person, which I know was NOT an association in your creativity, Charles. Just mentioning that as possible source of some readers' unease. Pity, because I see that you are working to communicate a true insight of your own musing. A fascinating situation! Best wishes to you and Lana-
Alex, black shine to me is really a sensuous gleaming light that reflects off of black silk or satin.
Vesper. well of course, since I am so normal. :)
Cloudia, Yes. But as you noted, no association with that in this piece. I think the group members didn't know about the "shine" as slur concept. The shine to me is a light gleaming on black silk.
Sounds like she's planning on you for dinner...
I googled the term "Black Shine" and came up with this which I found interesting: http://www.louisianafolklife.org/LT/Articles_Essays/creole_art_toast_tradition.html
Sage, that is interesting. I wonder if I've heard something about this in passing at some point and that helped to influence the phrase coming up in my head.
I like it, black shine, & the poesie.
Erik, thankee!
Charles, sometimes I come up with phrases that I think are pretty good and I try and use them somewhere. "Black shine" sounds good to me.
Prashant, thanks!
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