*

*
Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash. Leonard Cohen

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Form and Function

It Must Be Time For Lunch Now, 1979, by Francesca Woodman


Forks, spoons, knives
These are just tools,
Forms to accomplish some
Function,
Such as the delivery of food to
The body.
Chopsticks, fingers
Would also suit
The purpose.
The beauty 
of the form lies 
in its ability to perform
The task.
Does the fork’s metal catch the light
To bake the perfect print?
Do the chopsticks hold the hair
In a delicious bun atop the head?
Is the finger the correct length and diameter
For a dependable and silent purge?
Is the knife sharp enough to slice away the pain
Without killing the host?

submitted for The Mag, Mag 137 

10 comments:

Helen said...

'Forms to accomplish function' ~~ a new way of looking at simple utensils. Great combination of the prompts ...

Mary said...

Wow, this is a strong, stunning, surprising poem. I had no idea where it was going until the last four lines; and then I had to read it over a second time. Definitely love - hate! Thanks for sharing with Poetry Jam.

Brian Miller said...

whew...nice last couple lines there....i prefer chopsticks....on the plate or as a finishing touch in the hair...or finger food....smiles.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Whew...intense and deep. Great piece.

Berowne said...

Sharp, pointed - and may I say, "cutting edge"?

Scarlet said...

A chilling and calculated end ~ The last 4 lines were clever ~

not displayed said...

Wow. The ending completely took me by surprise. Very powerful

JustRex said...

Wow. That kind of hit me right between the eyes. Yow!!!

Peggy said...

Quite a striking photo with this very striking poem. Vivid message through ordinary forms. The ending lines are haunting.

Mary B. Mansfield said...

Whoa, definitely quite the turn in those last four lines! So well-written, thanks for sharing this!