A lily pad within

· by · in free verse, poetry. ·

Metamorphosed, by a pine marten’s
brush, she was watercolored smooth,
then scalpel sculptured, a lily formed,
to model muse, a she for she, a pioneer
Postulated penis envy, contradicted
with a crave for uterus, how can you
explain it Dr. Freud? Maybe it’s not
coded X or Y, but it’s not sex or why
the separation into public restrooms,
but a deeper felt emotion, that within
your shell, there is a lily growing.

Lili Elbe by Gerda Wegener

Lili Elbe by Gerda Wegener

Today we are revisiting old prompts with Sherry at toads. I had missed them all, but today I did Shay’s prompt on the art of Gerda Wagener. Of course I had to weave in some of the background of her model Lili Elbe who was originally her husband Einar. I will also link this to poetry pantry tomorrow morning.
—
May 21, 2016

33 responses to “A lily pad within”

  1. I love this poem, Bjorn – the feel of then and now in terms of gender issues. That people should be so hung up about bathroom facilities in the 21st century. I remember uni-sex bathrooms in Paris back in the 80s!

  2. Beautifully contemplated and written, Bjorn, with such sensitivity. I especially love the gentle closing lines “that within your shell, there is a lily growing.” Lovely. I recommend the movie The Danish Girl, if you havent seen it. A fascinating life story, and love story as well.

  3. My dearest Bjorn, I’m in love with this poem. I’m enchanted by the way you’ve weaved the old and the new, the scientific and that which thrives in the spirit… the poem is so very human: beautiful and raw.

  4. Very interesting Bjorn, and I like how you put it, I like the slightly harsh tone in addressing Freud (at least that is how I read it in my head) and that we are touching in such an emotionally approachable way into the topics of today.

  5. So much conversation about restrooms in 2016. I am appalled by the insensitivity of some people in regard to this issue. I hardly think that transgenders are a risk in a public restroom. Truly, how many cases have there been……?

  7. I live the lines:
    ‘she was watercolored smooth,
    then scalpel sculptured,’
    with a touch of Freud. I listened to an interesting programme on Radio 4 about the relationship between Freud and Jung and their patient, Sabine Spielrein. What a coincidence to read your poem, Bjorn!

  8. I emphasize with this one, Bjorn. The last woman’s rest room I used happened a couple of weeks ago. Accident and misunderstanding combined. I thought it strange that there was no urinal.
    Kerry’s multi-sex rest rooms might be the answer, no urinals period but doors on the stalls.
    ..

  11. A finely crafted poem – Grayson Perry has done some work on what it is to be a man – not sure i go along with the caricature he chooses to dress as himself but i think your poem beautifully illustrates that our identity is definitely a feeling as much as biology..if we feel like a lily the world will see us as such

  13. I just now listened to an interview with a transgender person and what she, previously he, experienced on her journey. Freud (yes, he was a pioneer) is hopefully turning in his grave. A whole scope of gendered issues in a short poem! 🙂

  17. This is such a rich, detailed poem, Bjorn, and I really admire how many layers of meaning you’ve managed to weave together. I look at the painting with your words in mind and so many new insights can be seen.

  18. Truly there is nothing new under the sun. I like the way you alluded to Freud in addressing what some believe to be new issues

    I’m happy you dropped in at my Sunday Lime today

    Much love…

  21. This is a wonderful poem Bjorn. Freud is weeping in his grave with his ghostly penis which no one envied. You make a great statement here.

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