It was you who thrust the poem
into the corner and continued to kick
while it cowered - just to see
what happens when it bleeds.
Is that ink seeping across the floor?
Blind, your coarse hands search
its limbs and skin, feeling
each mole, every wrinkle
like Braille - searching.
Still clueless, you dissect
the stomach -
its lines spill out
like entrails it holds
in the bowl of its hands.
The letters run through fingers like DNA...
GAT...CTA...GAC...
You continue to probe; what do they mean?
What do they mean?
You wrench open the mouth, waggle
its tongue with you finger and thumb.
But no - the poem remains dumb,
with its bald, faceless head that seems to change,
depending on your perspective.
It turns to your wife and she staggers to her knees,
screaming of her lost son.
It eyes up your brother and he cries
of his own lonely heart...
then a shriek.
The poet stands in the doorway,
cradling her poem's last word
like a carmine red placenta.
She falls at your feet and begs you, please,
to spare her child.
Comments
Ewan | August 28, 2009 - 12:47
Offered for reading = offered for criticism: sometimes it hurts. I don't see a great need for dissection to discover the meaning of this one. A striking idea.
I enjoyed it.
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 13:08
Thank you, Ewan, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think you may have got the wrong end of the stick - this isn't a response to anything; I'm not trying to make a bold statement or take a swipe at anyone - inspiration just sprang from a wonderful poem by Billy Collins called 'Introduction to Poetry'.
Magic xxx
Ewan | August 28, 2009 - 13:10
No, I didn't assume it was a response to anything in particular. I just thought it was a poem about how someone (everyone) feels about their writing: protective.
Ewan | August 28, 2009 - 13:13
I also felt you were getting at the way (sometimes) overanalysis of writing can actually destroy all meaning. I had some English Literature teachers who were very good at that.
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 13:16
Ah, OK, sorry Ewan I should stop jumping the gun ;) But you're absolutely right 'protective' sums this all up. Thank you again for commenting! Just saw your second comment and also agree, analysis often gets in the way of appreciation.
Magic xxx
Beeme | August 28, 2009 - 14:13
Hey Magic,
I really enjoyed the poem, everyone is protective of their work. This is a great poem, I keep reading it and it gets better and better :)
Perfect end lines;
'She falls at your feet and begs you, please,
to spare her child.'
Your poem was very 'bold' and direct in expressing these protective feelings.I agree with Ewan some of my English Literature teachers are extremley good at overanalysis and trying to force a class to see the poem or book based on their own perceptions.
I also really enjoyed these lines;
'It turns to your wife and she staggers to her knees,
screaming of her lost son.'
'It eyes up your brother and he cries
of his own lonely heart...'
A poem normally means something to the person reading it, that the author never even thought about when they wrote it...
Beeme xx
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 14:17
Wow thank you for such a lovely review Beeme! I'm really glad you enjoyed the poem ;)
Magic xxx
lenchenelf | August 28, 2009 - 15:44
Liked this and the Collins poem, have you read Brian Patten 'A blade of grass' :-) all the best Lenax
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 15:48
No I haven't Lena, I'll check it out now! Thank you fro the feedback ;)
Magic xxx
threeleafshamrock | August 28, 2009 - 18:30
Wonderful imagery and great originality. I (as usual) really liked this one and the ending was special.
Chris XX
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 18:32
Thank you Chris! I'm glad the ending packed a punch for you as it was cause for concern in the editing stages!
Magic xxx
threeleafshamrock | August 28, 2009 - 19:03
Captured my insecurities perfectly lol
;^)
Cavalcaderl | August 28, 2009 - 19:05
New Tony
Congratulations on your
Curse of 222 | August 28, 2009 - 22:19
"with its bald, faceless head that seems to change,
depending on your perspective."
i really liked this line...it speaks to the reader's personal interpretation and connection to the poem. good concept and carried out marvelously. congrats on the cherry!
jason
Curse of 222 | August 28, 2009 - 22:21
"with its bald, faceless head that seems to change,
depending on your perspective."
i really liked this line...it speaks to the reader's personal interpretation and connection to the poem. good concept and carried out marvelously. congrats on the cherry!
jason
didn't mean to post this twice...oops!
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 22:35
Hey Jason! Don't worry about the double post - it just makes me look more popular ;) I'm really glad you liked this one and I've missed your comments on my poetry!
Magic xxx
Curse of 222 | August 28, 2009 - 22:43
i apologize for my absence...been a bit down and life's been hectic lately.
jason
sunshine | August 28, 2009 - 23:13
Well it's all been said - really enjoyed the imagery and it does strike a chord. Margot
MistakenMagic | August 28, 2009 - 23:25
I'm sorry you've been feeling a bit down Jason ;( My summer's been pretty hectic too. But thanks to my brand-spanking new laptop I'm on facebook at all hours if you ever need to chat ;)
Thank you Margot! I'm really glad this struck a chord with you!
Magic xxx
Silver Spun Sand | August 28, 2009 - 23:40
I would agree with Margot, this struck a definite chord with me...and it's all been said.
Many congratulations on the well-deserved cherry...and by the way, there are many more up that tree, you just have to learn to shake it a little (the tree I mean);-)Hard work, but it pays off in the end.
Tina xxxx
MistakenMagic | August 29, 2009 - 10:07
Thank you dear Tina ;) I'll keep on shaking the cherry tree lol
Magic xxx
sarah wilson | August 30, 2009 - 17:29
What a great piece of writing and a brilliant take on the subject. well deserved cherry indeed:)
sarah x
MistakenMagic | August 30, 2009 - 17:50
Awww thank you Sarah ;)
Magic xxx
Nathan Bednarek | September 1, 2009 - 14:52
This is an amazing poem, Magic. An overwhelming read ;-)
Nathan xox
MistakenMagic | September 1, 2009 - 16:23
Thank you Nathan ;) I got chills when writing this so I'm glad it impacted on you too!
Magic xxx