My Body Belongs to the Earth

Gold cherry

By onemorething

Sun, 10 Oct 2021
  • 1940 reads
12 comments
 

I've been planing four poems for October on a deathly, ghostly theme. This is the first one I've finished (well, a second draft of). 
 

A name is a spell spoken 

to the dead, as flesh

to bone, as bone to ash,

reddled with ochre -

this is how we decorate

death; a baby laid to rest

upon a swan's wing, 

a man beside his knife.

This final night, when

our last words rhyme,

we tell our mysteries; 

the spirit who lives on

without breath, or

rises again, revenant, 

is the corner of an eye

movement that hovers,

a light that lingers too long

in a different kind of darkness.

Give me a stone for my mouth,

dress me in my best clothes,

leave me a yew branch, a shell,

bring salt and silver,

for when it's time,

I do not want to come back,

my body belongs to the earth. 

 

 

Image is from here: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffin_portrait_1603.jpg

Certificate 12
Poem
Spiritual

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

There's that trademark affinity with the stark face of nature. Beautifully crafted, thoughtful piece about existence, our denouement and how it all sits with life, death and renewal.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Thanks Paul, that's very kind! Am really happy you liked it. And yes, my favourite theme! :)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I've been waiting for a poem about the finality of death, and you haven't let me down Rachel.

To become part of the land, where body nourishes the earth, is so symbolic. 

For me though, I hope my soul is reincarnated, I would love to transform into an eagle and soar the sky.

Definitely a poem that got me thinking. 

Thank you for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Hi Jenny, well, I'm very glad I could do the subject justice. Being an eagle in your next life sounds wonderful. Perhaps I could bend the truth and say that I'd be happy to come back as an owl, but just not myself as a sort of 'living dead'. Thanks for reading it and your lovely comment. Rachel :)

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

some wonderful images in this onemore - I love this:

the corner of an eye

movement that hovers,

a light that lingers too long

in a different kind of darkness.

one thing: 

reddled with ochre

is that a typo? Reddied? reddened? raddled? 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Hi insert, I'm glad you liked it. Thank you!  No, it's not a typo - 'raddled, ruddled, reddled' are all words used for the reddening using ochre. I used reddled because it appealed to me sound-wise. I did worry that people would assume that it was an error though so might change it, otherwise it's a little jarring perhaps. :)

 

Submitted by lenchenelf on

change it unless it jars Your soundscape. 

Good stuff

best

Lena xx

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

reddled does sound perfect - a mix of reddened and raddled - do keep it. It's just I googled and couldn't find it, so wondered if it was meant

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

This is our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!

Please share/retweet if you enjoy it

 

Submitted by onemorething on

What a lovely surprise! Thanks very, very much! :)

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I like the elementals in this so much, and had not heard of the baby on a swan's wing, so looked it up. So, thankyou for that too!

Reddled made me think of a mixture of red and riddled?

Perfect argument against cryonics 

 

Submitted by onemorething on

Yes, the burial of the baby on a swan's wing is heart-wrenchingly incredible. And ha, yes, no cryonics for me! Thanks for reading it, Di. :)