Linda
Hoye, author of Two
Hearts, invited me to take part in The Look Challenge for writers.
According to Linda, “The premise is
simple: find a passage in your manuscript or book that contains the word “look,” post
it on your blog, and tag five other blogging writers to do the same. Seems to me like a great way to introduce readers to other writers, so I’m all in.”
And I’m all in too.
Here is a one of the poems included in my memoir Leaving the Hall Light On – it even has the right title for this
challenge.
The Look
(inspired by the movie “Revolutionary
Road”)
She
looked toward him
from the
counter
and
offered him a glass of orange juice
freshly
squeezed.
She was
fully dressed in blouse and skirt
and
little wedgie shoes,
Her
makeup was perfect.
Her long
blonde hair just so.
She then
invited him to sit down
at the
table.
“Scrambled
or fried eggs?” she asked.
He said
whatever is easier, scrambled
probably,
and unbuttoning
his suit
jacket sat down,
looking
at her all the while.
She stood
at the sink scrambling and
when the
eggs were cooked,
she sat
down
opposite
him and they ate.
Not much
talking, mostly eating, and looking
closely
at each other’s eyes.
He got up
to go.
“That’s
the best breakfast you ever made
for me,”
he said.
And
before he left, he asked her
if she
was still mad
at him
from the night before.
They had
yelled at each other and showed so much hate
that she
ran off into the woods
beyond
their yard.
“Leave me
alone,” she screamed,
“I need
to think,” and he went to bed
alone.
But this
morning there was complete calm.
Her eyes
clear, her face luminous,
showing
none of last night’s horrific pain.
She had
the look that said
she had
found her
peace.
And, it didn’t include him.
I saw
that look once before
on my
son’s face, the night before
he took
his own life.
So I knew
what was coming.
It was
eerie to be so certain
that this
was where this story
was
going.
As she
said, “No, I don’t hate you,”
she took his face in her hands
and
smiled slightly.
She then
walked him
to the
door and stood there until
he drove
away.
She
turned and went inside.
That was
the last time
he would
see her alive.
Now, I
extend the challenge to these five wonderful writers. Please take a look at
their websites and become familiar with their work. You are in for a treat.
Angela Felsted, editor of Poetry Pact, 2011
Eleanor Vincent, author of Swimming with Maya
Sonia Marsh, author of Freeways to Flip-Flops
Doreen Cox, author of Adventures in Mother-Sitting
Laurel Garver, author of Never Gone
