earth
has tethered this flight -
has tethered this flight -
the sweet loamy smell of us
the picked-clean bones of us
this microbial
disarrangement of senses.
one perfect pinion
sabred
air to ribbons.
one scalpel keelbone
dissected
air to breathing-gas.
one fishhook toe
snagged
tides of cirrus.
the scattered feathers move
to breath
which left the lungs
and won't return
the slow exhale:
the cage of ribs
unbarred, the door
swung wide.
the bones are cast
upon the ground,
the fortune gathered up.
this headstone tooth
has bit us off
this tombstone door
has shut us out
the heavy sky let fall
the parts that could not fly.
.
A stunning poem
ReplyDeletethe cage of ribs
ReplyDeleteunbarred, the door
swung wide.
the heavy sky let fall
the parts that could not fly.
that sings.
knocked me out
ReplyDeleteThis and the last, both, so stunning,
ReplyDeleteso very you, singing...
I'll dust Coral off now.. ;)
x
i thanks you all.
ReplyDeleteAnthony, i'm chuffed that you like it.
Coral, i hope you make a speedy recovery. coz i don't have insurance fer that kinda thing.
Misses Jane and Joy, as you know, i LOve to sing
The combination of the direct voice and the steady insistence of the shorter lines works quite well, and it drives the reader along to the starkly poignant resolution. I have reread the piece a few times now, and it grows on me, and I do not doubt that, had I spaced the rereading out a bit more I would notice the enrichment of its meanings further.
ReplyDeletethanks, Phillip, for your thoughtful response.
ReplyDelete