Blanche & Ophelia
truth doesn’t lie
in the voice of the gentleman she’s not expecting
nor in the one who rejects
it’s a dim half or almost whole dark shade
dawdling in the parlour or a menace in wait
outside the shuttered window
where ordinary scraps of day gather to singularities
a woman far from her self
makes no last call as a stone-laced coat takes her down
and her boa of plucked flowers and straws
breaks apart on the way to the sea
scatterings that may be one in another otherness
if only before going in
she dams the stream within
and looks over her shoulder to ask
whether a lad who thinks too much is worth it
or catches through the dropping sun
the crenellations of the nunnery he suggests
and if prescriptions are not for her
let her wash her hair such fine hair
paint her still porcelain face still young
put on a lilac jacket or something igneous for Mardi Gras
take the first trolley that comes and have as Springfresh Belle
chance meetings with strangers
perhaps among them a citified man
not royal but of good family
a man to rely on
by the indifferent water
Ophelia sees what Blanche recalls at sultry mothy dusk
each natural hour ground to damp
affected powder in the fist of solitary
each black book engagement a tableau
of too much reach for gold
narrow eyes outside a known better days hotel
and the farce of exit pursued by a bear
for who is brave to love for long an actress
who can’t tell the difference
men whose hands go everywhere uninvited
while hearts stay at work or home and heads bend
to the value they are or aren’t getting
whose notes of charity crumple on the spread?
in the veiled lamplight she craves
Blanche forgets Ophelia’s silent curtain
johnpoetflanagan 
Good to see you back, my friend. Excellent as ever.
Michael
Thank you very much
Best to you
john
It is so good to read your work once more, John. This is a finely woven piece; the Shakespearean overtones belying the fact that this is a very relevant poem of regret, betrayal and self-doubt. Excellent writing which made me feel both sad and reflective yet also left me pondering on how we relate to one another.
Thank you Chris,
you are more than generous and very supportive
Always with my best
john
Each reading brings more depth and understanding. Thanks for sharing your gifts.
Thank you
Myra
for reading and commenting so warmly
Always
john
Mad women indeed just stepping out of the streetcar. I adore your writing, it does take me to a different time. “sultry mothy dusk”, brilliant.
Holly
Once again
thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement
and the fine compliments
Much love
john
To you as well, John. Your writing is a gift! Much love, Holly
Excellent I adore 🙂
Gyslaine
Thank you very much
My best to you
john
You cut to the core of human values and worth John. A life related with your compassion for each and every being with artistic descriptions that move andstir my soul. Ever your friend, Jon Michael.
Fine response
Jon My Friend
for which i thank you sincerely
Ever Your Friend
john
An interesting pairing of women as models. With just a few words, we know who they are – if we’re old enough to had read the right books.
Thank you
Alicia
for reading and commenting
Best wishes
john
You’re a true master of poetry. The understanding you are capable of is quite easily envied. Yes, jf, this poem is fine. Love the undertones.
Audrey
You have such a fine, generous nature
and i’m honoured by your response.
Thank you
My best to you always
jf
Great to see you back in blog-form John. Love this poem and it’s teasing “unsaids” 🙂
Thank you,
Ina,
for reading and responding so warmly and generously
My best to you
john
Brother John – Such an interesting weaving and contrasting of these two striking and archetypal characters. Life filled Mardi Gras and the silent stream.
Loved the last two lines:
in the veiled lamplight she craves
Blanche forgets Ophelia’s silent curtain
Brother David
Thank you very much
Love to You and Diane
Brother john
I shed many tears for Blanche. I too have often depended on kindness of strangers in my life. Thank you for being kind to these two beautiful characters. xx
Thank you, Inese
for this beautiful response
and thank you for your support
Big hugs
john
Reblogged this on ' Ace Friends News ' and commented:
Nice to see you back and writing your great stuff again keep up the good work Ian ⭐️😊👍
John, you often leave me at a loss for words; this reading is one of them.
“by the indifferent water
Ophelia sees what Blanche recalls at sultry mothy dusk
each natural hour ground to damp
affected powder in the fist of solitary
each black book engagement a tableau
of too much reach for gold
narrow eyes outside a known better days hotel
and the farce of exit pursued by a bear…”
The magic of the language never escapes you. Marvelous.
Thank you, Don
thank you so very much
for your support and for your generosity of spirit and mind
Ever
john
You’re most welcome John. When I see the exceptional it stirs me to words of my own.
Warmest regards,
Don
Too contemplate your poem brings joy to my day John , thank you for returning . Love , megxxx
Meg
Thank you very much
Much love to you
john
Brilliant, John… Hve not seen your work in a while
Rajiv
Thank you very much for reading
and for responding as generously as you have
My best to you
john
Well done, John. Vivid and powerful. Hugs.
Teagan
Thank you very much for your generous words
Big hugs
john
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