Poetry Friday: Millicent Borges Accardi
April 10, 2009 by Women's Voices For Change
Millicent Borges Accardi has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the arts (NEA), the California Arts Council, the Barbara Deming Foundation (Money for Women), Jentel, and the Corporation of Yaddo. Her work has appeared in over 50 literary publications including Nimrod, Tampa Review, New Letters and Wallace Stevens Journal as well as a in Boomer Girls (Iowa Press) anthology. She lives in Topanga, CA and telecommutes as a technical writer. She presently has three manuscripts in progress, looking forward to the publication of her first book. This fall, she was an artist in residence at Fundación Valparaíso in Mojacar, Spain.
Coupling
The woman thought she would be good,
making sure he washed,
rescuing black stockings, wood pile
scraps. Finding theatre tickets
and collecting parking stubs.
She thought she would be good
at using his soap. Remembering
not to wear perfume and waking
up to call home. In the hotel,
hiding while the hot water ran,
her heart compact as plywood.
She thought she would be good
at belonging. The bulk of her time
a two-by -four dove-tailed into a corner,
getting the best he had to offer.
She thought she had a talent for being aloof.
On him, she made few demands.
When he was away, she imagined
his heart open, fearless
hands holding a piece of wood steady
while a diamond-point blade cut through.
WVFC Poetry Friday: Millicent Borges Accardi « Elizabeth Willse on Fri, 10th Apr 2009 10:24 am
[...] Read her poem at Women’s Voices For Change Published in: [...]
Jane Satterfield on Fri, 10th Apr 2009 7:57 pm
Congrats, Millicent, and thanks for the alert to this fine poem!
andrew burke on Fri, 10th Apr 2009 11:27 pm
I really enjoyed that poem. Thanks, Millicent. And what a pretty photo, too!
Lois Kackley on Sat, 11th Apr 2009 10:23 am
Great talent. Wonderful place (website) for recharging battery. Thanks to all who make it happen.
… do I smile…
Lois Kackley
M J Andrade on Sat, 11th Apr 2009 12:40 pm
LOVED Millicent’s poem–a perfect selection. Thank you for sharing this talented artist with the whirlwind of the web! More, please.
Lin Van Gelder on Sun, 12th Apr 2009 10:34 am
Thank you for this poem. Lovely, lovely work from a poet who cares about writing, passionately.
sarah daugherty on Tue, 14th Apr 2009 10:10 pm
Millicent, this is a great poem that tells the females persona’s perceptions of love and relationships like an unfolding damaged flower. I am impressed. THanks for this one!
l, sarah daugherty
JP Schoenberg on Wed, 15th Apr 2009 12:44 am
Beautiful. This poem makes me want to hold my breath and then gasp.
Angela C. on Wed, 15th Apr 2009 10:04 pm
Love it! Especially relevant to me, since we have carpenters working here every day, cutting wood and breaking hearts. ; )
April on Thu, 16th Apr 2009 3:02 pm
I love wood as your controlling image!