‘shh’ rustles the
willow as I settle
down in its crook
to watch the show
to set the scene: a flooded bog with wanting plants
reaching down to the muddy water, dark
the cast: just
the body floating
with its hair tangled
in hidden, up-reaching
branches, motionless
the first scene:
the first little nibbles
here there
slowly bone is
revealed after many
days, until bleached polka
dots rein over the lonely corpse
and they’re not just dots anymore
the final scene: live bodies
leaving, breathing live bodies
come and turn it over
revealing the familiar
structure of the face
that was once mine
sockets now empty and I
gasp at the unbelievable climax
curtain closes
as my spirit leaves the willow
and I am free
I LOVE the format. Once again Brooke, you never fail to impress. ;D
ReplyDeleteThanks. Did you get what shape the bottom stanza was supposed to be?
ReplyDeleteLovely, just lovely. Is the bottom stanza a skull? Skull and crossbones?
ReplyDeleteYes! It is a skull. ^^
ReplyDeleteI love this. Wow. So vivid. I love the stanza shapes too!
ReplyDeleteEdge of Your Seat Romance
I've actually started to like concrete poems lately. They add a nice feel.
ReplyDeleteOooh! I see the skull! I remember having to write a poem in a shape for school. You so totally would have taken the cake. And I like all this gore you've got going on lately. *wide eyes* You write it well. *insert maniacal laughter here!*
ReplyDeleteManiacal laughter was definitely insert. -wink-
ReplyDeleteWow, so creepy and powerful. Since I've been following your posts, this is my favorite poem so far. I'm a big fan of concrete poetry.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Theresa. ^^ Then you should also check out Nightmare (link in sidebar through archive).
ReplyDelete