A Parisian Bedspread

A Work in Progress

14

Genius was legion in Paris then

sometimes anguished often alone and poor

often happier than ever before

sincere with clear artistic acumen

there had been peace for ten years or more

but inevitable war now approached

to those that day close following politics

who sat at night lit by dim electrics

from archives we can validate dates times

when H.D. was in Paris, Aldington

Cunard, that Guggenheim fellow Glenn Hughes

did they all meet, was Brigit Patmore there?

we can infer what they did what they said

by what they wrote by what they left unsaid

An imagist poet with paramour

was it Richard Aldington and H.D?

they had married some fifteen years before

but what burned brighter was now bereft

they had traveled from more to less and back

to Paris again, now side by side together

no argument left a truce unstated

taking sides while watching the game below

In Paris then, a world changed utterly

from earlier times, abandoned rhymes

youths all gone; lads sacrificed on barbed wire 

clashing words that smashed meek monotony

since that long war that ended in defeat

never was victory so bittersweet

he told her that under the rules three times 

repeat of position would be a draw 

even if she declined even if he flagged

her guile could not outwit those age-old laws

it was clear he said Ares wanted to win

studying the position from on high

she said Aphrodite would never let him

Aphrodite would always find a way

her household gods were much more ancient 

though their fortunes had faded they could still bless

they had travelled from more to less and back

by secret ways they could spring an attack

her vows were more sacred she tutored him

than those that were sworn by the gods of chess

they contested their knowledge of Greek myths

Aphrodite and Ares on stage below 

enmeshed in a golden game of chess

now that her husband had ruled out his bed

he must be hiding close by they bantered

jealously watching the lovers below

wasn’t that Hephaestus? that man limping by?

disguised with Latin Quarter cloak and hat

no, only Ezra out in search of Dot

at the hour when warm air magnifies light

they looked through shimmering leafy branches

where goddess and god glanced each at each

would either be so kind to make a draw

would either have in mind a fond embrace

should each finally accept each other?

their eternal joust went on unceasing

each making measured glances with intent

to understand what each could not comprehend 

in a moment or lifetime of moments

gods have conjugated all of time’s verbs 

described all we know of the infinite

spun many threads that have spawned many fates 

futures ahead of us we cannot see

suddenly standing by the bed again

they took the bedspread from the wooden floor

wrapped themselves against a sudden chill

shyly conscious of mutual allure

turned back to what went on in the square

found the chess pieces gone their bodies bare

Dick Russell © Richard M Russell

                    2025