***
the rooms are empty
except for the memories
of times squandered,
a father she hungered for affection from
a mother absent in all but the physical
laid the foundation
upon which her future was built,
no touch was allowed past the barriers,
a steely glare
and sharp words
formed high walls
and sculpted loved ones
in to acceptable moulds
until they poured free
and flowed in other directions,
stuck on a verge
she remained,
protecting herself
with violent tongue
amidst fiery eyed silences,
tis there that she reigns supreme
in the sepia tones of the sollitary
***
xanthippe = ill-tempered woman
Xanthippe (pronounced /zænˈθɪpi/; Greek: Ξανθίππη) was the wife of Socrates.
Frank Wedekind (1864-1918) wrote Xanthippe – I was unable to find a video of it, but for those of you musically inclined…
William Shakespeare mentioned Xanthippe in his play The Taming of the Shrew, Act 1 Scene 2:
-
Signior Hortensio, ‘twixt such friends as we
-
Few words suffice; and therefore, if thou know
-
One rich enough to be Petruchio’s wife,
-
As wealth is burden of my wooing dance,
-
Be she as foul as was Florentius’ love,
-
As old as Sibyl, and as curst and shrewd
-
As Socrates’ Xanthippe or a worse,
-
She moves me not, or not removes, at least,
-
Affection’s edge in me, were she as rough
-
As are the swelling Adriatic seas:
-
I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;
-
If wealthily, then happily in Padua.
My favourite The Taming of the Shrew is the BBC One version starring Shirley Henderson and Rufus Sewell.
This post is part of ABC Wednesday.
For more interpretations of the letter X visit here.
Wow. You are not just an incredible writer…but an incredible ‘seer’. Happy New Year, beautiful lady.
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Awww – thank you Brynne. Your words mean so much to me.
🙂
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as do yours…as do yours, my dear, dear Jo:)
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You are so sweet – I hope Santa was good to you this season…do they have a Mexican version of Santa??
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pretty much the same…except I think you’re less likely to find a real white beard on a mall Santa:) My mom came and I cooked so much I’m now part zombie. Exhausted. But happy. Have I told you I love your snowflakes here on your blog? I do! I know you miss your babies…thinking of you, Jo. Cant wait to talk new years resolutions/intentions with you later this week!:)
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My only New Year’s resolution is to spend Christmas next year away somewhere – where no-one I know can find me…
Glad you like the snowflakes !!!
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JO, is this any good to you.
http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=Amx.anD0WEVxhPjmF6Hdml04hJp4;_ylc=X1MDMjAyMzM5MjMxMgRfcgMyBGZyA3lmcC10LTcwMgRuX2dwcwMwBG9yaWdpbgN1ay55YWhvby5jb20EcXVlcnkDRnJhbmsgV2VkZWtpbmQgWGFudGhpcHBlBHNhbwMw?vc=&p=Frank+Wedekind+Xanthippe&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-702
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Thanks Harry – it goes to the same sites I linked to – there doesn’t appear to be a recording of Xanthippe on the web – just some from his other writings.
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Ok Jo.
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Thanks for looking though Harry.
;
🙂
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I like the story behind the character. How tough it must have been – everyone has a story to tell. I enjoyed it 🙂
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Thank you. I am very happy that you enjoyed this one.
🙂
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Okay. Now I totally worship you! You taught me a new word and your photography is brilliant. I am so glad that we’ve connected across the divide. Thank you for making my day! –Russell
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Well a comment like this one could go to a girl’s head – thank you Russell.
😉
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Nicely done, Jo. This is reminiscent of the relationship my mom tells me she had with her mother. Bad memories; hard to quantify and resolve in her mind.
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/another-will-be-born/
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Thanks Charles.
Mother/daughter relationships – well parent/child relationships can be a minefield for all involved.
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Love that last line: “in the sepia tones of the solitary”
Great imagery to end on.
Powerful write!
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Thank you 🙂
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Good thing we’re not talking about you, except to say brilliant writing and an amazing image, Thanks for sharing!
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Oh she’s not me – at least I hope not…but thanks Cap’n. It’s good to have you back !!!
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I can feel sorry for Socrates when I think of his wife – all the best for the coming new year.
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Socrates is said to have been quoted saying that he chose her precisely because of her argumentative spirit, if this be the case I don’t have too much sympathy for him.
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cool X 🙂
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Thanks
🙂
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OOooooooooooooooooooooooh I finally have a name! Loved this Jo – great to have you aboard ABC Wednesday.
Denise
ABC Team
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Glad you liked it – I doubt though that you have too much in common with her…
🙂
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P.S. I embrace your animal campaigns – certainly will be part of 2012 and beyond! xxxxxxxxx Thanks for having the courage to print the links – I just cry when I see such abhorent practices…Dxxx
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Glad they make you feel something – it is what we all should do – feel for them and act.
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That is quite a poem and it certainly resonates with me. Jo, being only a little capable with a computer, I found I had about 9,000 emails on my g mail. My son insisted I delete them. I came across one from you about looking for a picture of a little horse, from about 6 months ago. You were asking me to send you a copy because you had lost yours. I don’t remember if I ever replied or even if I saw your email, which is not surprising!! Any way if it is still an issue please email me again. My sons and our computer man are about to sort out what they thought was a mess with my email. I was quite happy with it, but it’s a generational thing and I will probably let them do whatever they must at the weekend. In the mean time if you remember anything about this please do e mail.
Such a unique post. Some poetry on some blogs is blah but this is thought provoking.
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Glad that you found this poem thought provoking. I don’t think it was me that asked about the piccy…at least I have no recollection of doing so.
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playful and powerful wording…
you rock.
Happy Rally.
🙂
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Thanks Natalie
🙂
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xanthippe – so very much unlike your wonderful self
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
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So glad to hear you didn’t equate her with me…hehe
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“I suffer alone in silence.”
What a heart wrenching poem that is all too true for so many children. They have very few (if any) advocates.
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Thanks for taking the time to tell me what you think.
🙂
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What an original word and a great post for X day. Happy New Year to come!
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Thanks Carver – Happy New Year to you as well !!
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Nice. Sad but beautifully expressed.
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Thank you
🙂
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I think you have captured the essence of many of our childhoods. Good writing.
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Thank you Eliza…
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A lovely, insightful poem. I had always thought of Xanthippe as a shrew, but now, after reading your poem, I understand her loneliness.The painting is beautiful too.
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Thank you – it is actually a photograph – but I am glad to hear you liked it…
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I’ve been reading some great poetry today! Yet this one really meant something to me… I felt it… related a bit with it.
~L
http://untitledmoments.com/2011/12/23/i-am-many-free-write-friday/
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That is wonderful to hear !!!
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great stuff!! love your pieces!
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Love that you do like them.
🙂
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such a wonderful post
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So happy to hear that you think so.
🙂
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Awesome, very well written.
Wish you Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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Thanks Rajesh – a Happy New Year to you as well.
🙂
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Powerful words to the end. Happy New Year!
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Thanks Gwen – Happy New Year to you !
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behind every great man, is a great woman. May be at home, she is a great person. I had to google to find out who she is. I remember the movie starring Elizabeth taylor.
Did you come up for the Big Coca cola Christmas in the park? Quite something isn’t it? The one I am involved is in Mt Albert, a much smaller scale.
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Yes it was for the Coca-cola one – many years ago though…yours sounds like fun. Happy New Year to you !
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love your words..
lots of power in the sepia
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Thanks Robin – Happy New Year to you !
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Great write, Jo … bittersweet and poignant … sadly, I know too many who can relate to this — pulls up much emotion. Plus you taught me a new word … I am not sure I can even pronounce 🙂
Happy New Year ~~
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Hi Becca – thanks so much for that comment – Happy New Year to you !
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Xantippe was the worst woman ever ! Poor Socrates !
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Well he picked her, so I have trouble feeling sorry for him…
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Thats such an amazing poem Jo, your writing gift is enviable. And xanthippe is a great word, next time I behave like that I’ll remember it! Well done, awesome.
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Hi Gilly – you are so kind in your praise – thanks. Happy New Year to you !
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Great power in this with an excellent ending. And i loved the image.
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Thanks Anthony
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Very good text and image. From now on I will call my wife Xanthippe, ha ha ha.
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Oh no !!!!
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Hi Jo! It’s so sad that if a child cannot find comfort with its parents, it is bound to become a cold, cruel adult itself. Great post, Jo and great video too. Thank you for sharing.
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Hi Wil – so glad to see you here and thrilled you enjoyed the video.
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Hello Jo.
This poem was sad & an all too painful reality for some.
You expressed it beautifully.
Smiling…nice info on Xanthippe. I’ll have to keep that one in my library for whenever we get to letter “X” again! (lol)
Thanks for sharing & visiting. I appreciate your comment.
Best wishes for the new Year!
Xanadu: This Lush, Tropical Garden
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Thanks Andy – Happy New Year to you !
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I feel better educated; thank you Jo.
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Wow – that comment makes me feel good !!!
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A very powerful story – I can see her clearly – and am touched by the words
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What a wonderful thing to say – thank you
🙂
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Lovely piece! And the picture goes so well with the poem!! 🙂
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I love that you think they go well together.
🙂
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Like this very much. In the sepia tones of the solitary is a lovely phrase. I would like to see it aligned to the left rather than centred… Less distracting.
Thanks
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Glad you liked that phrase. Sorry you found the form distracting – however it was done on purpose. The shape is akin to a female form standing on a pedestal that has her both held high and cut off at the same time. So I am afraid I won’t be aligning it to the left unfortunately. But I do take on board your thoughts…
Happy New Year to you !
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Gripping stuf, Jo! The use of sepia was my favorite part!
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So thrilled that you think so – I love that you liked that part…
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thanks for the background info, really a comprehensive, well studied subject to yield a nice poem.
happy rally! http://lynnaima.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/souls-paradise/
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Thank you for saying so – I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to research…
🙂
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What a great Movie I love the characters Behind the scene 🙂
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Me too Jake.
🙂
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first of all, you teach me beautiful new things, and second of all, the following lines:
“sculpted loved ones
in to acceptable moulds
until they poured free
and flowed in other directions”
are going to stay engraved in my mind for a very long time…
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Thanks you Liliana for your lovely words.
🙂
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Great work, Jo. I hope the goodness keeps flowing all through the new year!
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Thanks Hook – I hope it does as well. 🙂
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A very powerful piece, worthy of a Greek tragedy. So much hurt in it. Thank you.
Happy New Year!
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Thank you so much – wishing you a Happy New Year as well !!!
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This is a powerfully written piece with great intensity
that I can relate to. I have submitted one for the rally
on this same subject. It is a very deep subject that never
stops causing reflection for those left behind with the scars.
So very well done, Jo.
Happy New Year – 2012
Isadora
http:// insidethemindofisadora.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/i-was-the-child/
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Thanks Isadora, that means a lot coming from you – I just went and read your poem – the tears are still sticky on my face. May 2012 bring you great joy…
🙂
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There’s always a reason for shrewishness – pity we don’t always look beyond the obvious.
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Very true.
🙂
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Very interesting photo and your poems are cool!!! Happy holidays!
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Thank you Katya.
🙂
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ohhh I like this a lot!! love the word choice – Xanthippe, the shrill wife of socrates – this poem perfectly catches it and more – the backstory too – loved the descriptions too and some favourite lines “protecting herself
with violent tongue
amidst fiery eyed silences,
tis there that she reigns supreme
in the sepia tones of the solitary” – that last line is so good!! nice work with this one, I’ll be saving this blog to my blog folder 🙂 nice to see it up at poetry palace
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Ohhh – thank you for the wonderful comment. She was an interesting character and I’ve often wondered if she was not misunderstood. Who’s ever to know what drove her to her supposed shrewishness…
🙂
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I feel like you are writing exactly about me…
This is very bittersweet.
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I think that there exist a little of Xanthippe in every one of us.
😉
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last line is beautiful
ornamented joshua
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Thank you.
🙂
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First off…great site. Second I love this piece. The sad portrayal is hauntingly beautiful in a strange and ghostly way. My daughter and I dream of visiting New Zealand one day. She is studying the language.Happy New Year!
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Thank you – I am very pleased you liked both this site and the post. I hope you make it out here – New Zealand is so very special.
🙂
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Excellent entry for X day! Thanks for sharing;o)
I hope you had a wonderful time with your family and friends and wish you all the best for the new year!
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♥ღ♥ღ♥ღ♥HAPPY NEW YEAR♥ღ♥ღ♥ღ♥
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Wow – fabulous comment !!!
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This poem is really well done. The story it tells is all too common. I was curious to know what xanthippe meant– thanks for the tip on that and the quote from The Taming of the Shrew.
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Thank you – so glad you liked it, and happy you enjoyed the rest.
🙂
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The poem was a perfect write for the picture, and very well-wrought, Jo. I have a new respect for your word-smithing abilities! I have to admit, I really enjoyed the video clip, too! 🙂 Thanks very much for sharing.
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Well now I feel great. I love that you enjoyed the clip as I really loved that version of the Taming of the Shrew…
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Our life and the people in it influence our character so much… Sad story!
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Too true – way too true…
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