Poems & Prose

written by

Marilyn Comparetto

When I was Small

I made wrinkly skin by sitting in the bath too long

Wore shoes that were three times too big for me

Used Mum’s lipstick without using the lips as a guideline

Spun around on my bottom on the cold floor so that I couldn’t stand up anymore

Made people laugh by acting the fool

It was good to be innocent and not understand about pollution or wars or cruelty

I only knew how to be me and I was only expected to be me

I didn’t know that one day I may need to have an inner self and an outer self

I didn’t understand that one day the pretend play would end and then it would become real and that the reality would not be so easy

I didn’t understand that a female’s interpretation of love was an entirely different to the male’s interpretation of love

I wanted freedom but I didn’t understand that this always comes with a price

I wanted peace but didn’t understand to maintain peace you have to win the war or keep your weapons in place to protect the peace

I didn’t understand why we argued so much, why we irritated each other, why we are so competitive, so greedy, so thoughtless,

so egocentric, why so many people are starving, abused, neglected, tortured and hated

Now I do understand that this is just life, and that humanity turns against itself in the fight for power or survival .........

Marilyn Comparetto

June 2009

The Gift of Life

The smell of you next to my skin, that special smell that new life brings with it,

Mouth searching for the milk, you pout your rose bud lips until they settle on my breast,

Suckling gently until you drift into a sleep exhausted after your journey into this world.

I stroke your head and look down into your face amazed at the miracle that is you,

Counting your fingers and toes and making sure everything is perfectly formed,

Knowing that even if you were not perfect that I would still love you with all my heart.

Hair soft like the downy feathers of a new chick, skin soft and silky but creased,

Eyes so blue they look like jewels, I watch over you as your body pulsates with every breath,

I will protect you and love you for as long as I breathe, in the knowledge that you are mine.

Marilyn Comparetto

August 2008

Sleepless Nights

I close my eyes inviting sleep to come but ideas start gatecrashing into my mind, so sleep stays away.

Colours, shapes, stories and ideas to experiment rendering me into a state of mindful activity, I get out of bed.

Body in a half sleeping state I fumble my way downstairs to the studio, the light is far too bright.

I grasp the kettle to make a shot of caffeine to encourage the physical energy to match the mental alertness,

I’m now fully awake.

Loading the brush with paint I stroke the canvas first gently then furiously, the ideas start to come.

Saturating scrim with PVA I build lines onto the canvas that will shape the story, with the destination unknown.

Canvas laid flat I pour materials into areas restricted by tape, experimenting starts.

A swirling mass of mixed media giving rise to a storm that gives another dimension, the canvas now saturated.

Music pounding in my ears, the rhythm induces me into a trance-like-state, I am now immersed.

Stories now unfolding I add anything to the canvas to accentuate a point, messages given.

Working up primary colours into different hues, forgetting the tubes mixed by manufacturers, it’s more fun.

Experimenting at every twist and turn until all ideas are exhausted so that sleep is guaranteed, I return to bed.

Curled up on my bed I float into another world that seems at times so real, dreams unfolding.

Muscles first relaxing , the mind gently sinking into deeper zones , awakening unknown desires.

Dreams allow me to participate in the impossible , lifting all boundaries, no prices to be paid.

Sleep, sweet sleep.... let me rest, let me go until tomorrow......, I need to recover from today.

Marilyn Comparetto

August 2008

Combinations

Take a look, take time and absorb life around you and then go back to the canvas

Interpret your experiences into your own language in a painterly fashion.

Imitate the colours, shapes and behaviours while developing a story that can be read by the onlooker,

We live in such an extraordinary and amazing world how can we ever say that we have no inspiration!!

Mankind in the millions of different genetic combinations, constantly defying the natural rules of fleshy tones,

So much inspiration to be found from here with hair styles, make up and fashion!

Hair that’s held up with the thickness of gel and coloured like a cockerel’s crest

Hair that’s shaved off with skin that is polished or bears a tattoo.

Make–up that is theatrical, that is scary or beautiful but made to attract the onlooker.

Body piercings and tattoos, leather waistcoats and bovver boots with chains dangling from every direction.

High heels like stilts shaping the carves into erotic shapes, nail varnish on long nails, designer clothes with the labels.

Smart suits, shiny shoes and ties that are bold, glasses that are funky, and the gangling of gold.

Nature’s paint brush can easily give inspiration to all that take time to look.

Flowers with vibrant patterns that are repeated in mathematical rhythms

Shapes so exotic that bees and butterflies are lured into them, why it must be love at first sight!

Some with such intricate designs and textures giving the impression of carefully folded silk,

Stamens hang like golden threads shinning in the sun releasing their potent dust.

Patterns camouflaging wildlife, while also adding to their unquestionable beauty,

Stripes, dots, and squares in all different combinations that will hide them in their natural habitats

The Chameleon with its ever changing colour codes adapting to all and every situation.

Male birds displaying coloured feathers during the courtship dance,

That includes a persuasive demonstration of erotic movements and sweet words in the shape of high tones.

Take a look, take time and absorb life around you and then go back to the canvas

Interpret your experiences into your own language in a painterly fashion

Imitate the colours, shapes and behaviours while developing a story that can be read by the onlooker

We live in such an extraordinary and amazing world how can we ever say that we have no inspiration!!

Marilyn Comparetto

August 2008

Mixism

The smell of a fresh canvas tingling in my nostrils awakening the senses and spurring me on,

Taking the pencil and lightly touching the canvas then as if by magic images begin to form

Portraying tears, laughter, anger, pain, violence, jealousy, illness and of course happiness ……

Broken dreams, ambitions, success, loss, failure, a life time of love and passion…..

The outside influences of the world going mad impacting on our lives….

Scarred but yet still going on, made stronger from each experience…and then to share that experience with others.

Throwing paint onto the canvas in an unpredictable manner giving rise to peculiar shapes that eventually make sense,

Sewing with silken thread of gold capturing a sense of direction or light,

Beads representing a time line or family tree and broken glass the debris that floats around the world.

Natives praying, Mother Nature healing, Souls that are Blue, Youth Dancing with Death, Safety Nets with Holes,

Is she really Sitting Pretty……..Women are still Battling On,

You can’t paint like that you must do it like this…You can’t mix with this and mix this with that!..........

Experiment, break all the rules to find new and wonderous things, explore your heart and imagination and you will find yourself on a challenging and exciting journey.

Marilyn Comparetto

July 2008

‘Dancing with Death’

In life there are opportunities and temptations in abundance and begging

So believing you are immortal and impervious to ‘Death’s’ claws you take the risk

‘Death’ knows better and maintains strong links with ‘Life’ waiting, just waiting.

Just one more pill, just one more fag, one snort of coke, one more bottle of Vodka,

One more thrill on the edge, on the back of a motor bike, in a speeding car,

One more fight, hold a knife, hold a gun, empowering yourself and destroying another.

Living life on the edge, on the brink, it didn’t hurt last time, it was fun, I will do it just once more…..

Trembling afraid now you hang over the edge, hallucinating, bleeding, feeling the pinch of ‘Deaths’ claws

Nauseated you know now that ‘Death’ has maintained strong links with ‘Life’ and the waiting is over……

Marilyn Comparetto

2008