Epigraph

Cherry

By MistakenMagic

Thu, 29 Mar 2012
  • 4950 reads
23 comments
 

It's been weeks since I slept on Hugh's floor, and the next morning
in her bed our breath smelled of coffee and menthol cigarettes.
Then I was on a train home, listening
to songs that made my chest tighten.
I want to cry, but I don't have the time.
Now the days are as sunny as peanut butter,
but I stay inside watching re-runs of Blackadder,
because I loved Captain Kevin Darling before I loved you.
Let the sun tell you about old age.
I've started using playing cards as book marks,
reading with my body at a right angle against the wall.
And I go to bed each night with one thought:
human beings know only how to self-destruct.

Certificate U
Conversation With My Thirteen-Year-Old Self
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Esther on
I found your poem touched deep in my soul; both moving as well as very sad.

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on
Now the days are as sunny as peanut butter, but I stay inside watching re-runs of Blackadder, I love those lines!

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Hi Esther! Yes, it turned out a little gloomier than I'd intended. At first I was going to call it 'Epitaph', but thought that would be too gloomy altogether ;-) Glad you enjoyed this little ditty! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Thanks, insert :-) Can't beat a bit of Blackadder! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by sid on
Magic, all your work is Magic :D love this, particularly those final four lines

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Thank you, sid! I've had that final line stuck in my head for weeks and weeks - glad I've finally got it down on paper ;-) Magic xxx

 

Submitted by leroy mockbee on

 

Submitted by leroy mockbee on
Wow. Very well done. Not to break it down, but the last four lines are stunning, and I enjoyed 'because I loved Captain Kevin Darling before I loved you.' Fantastic.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on
Fantastic, Magic;-) Magic - as sid says, and well done on the more than deserved cherries;-) Tina xxx

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Hi kirincnj, this is my first poem in over a month, so I'm really glad you like it, and thanks for telling me so ;-) Magic xxx P.S. The Captain Darling line is my favourite too!

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Thanks for reading, Tina! :-) Magic xxx

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on
I think the matter of factness makes this quite heart-breaking and I don't really know what it's about which proves the power of poetry and your writing. Pleasure to read your p[oems. :-) General Melchett: Is this true, Blackadder? Did Captain Darling pooh-pooh you? Captain Blackadder: Well, perhaps a little. General Melchett: Well, then, damn it all! What more evidence do you need? The pooh-poohing alone is a court martial offense!

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Captain Blackadder: I can assure you, sir, that the pooh-poohing was purely circumstantial. General Melchett: Well, I hope so, Blackadder. You know, if there's one thing I've learnt from being in the Army, it's never ignore a pooh-pooh. Thanks for reading, fatboy! I could tell you what it's about, but maybe that would spoil it ;-) Magic xxx

 

Submitted by fatboy74 on
I only have a vague sense of what my own poems are about, so I'm not sure it matters that much. Baaa! ;-)

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on
Hi Magic, can I first say I loved the title. Love the way you are able to use word association, like:- Now the days are as sunny as peanut butter, very original and as usual, you give the reader food for thought. Very much enjoyed reading. Jenny.xxx

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Hi Jenny! The title was the last thing that came to me - I often write poetry backwards ;-) That line about peanut butter is probably influenced by Toni Morrison - an American author whose unique similes are to die for! Glad you enjoyed this one! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by scratch on
Sorry about the belated comment magic, needless to say that, like everyone else I loved it. Fatboy is right on it - it's the poetic language that informs us, not the meaning. It's THE LANGUAGE that matters above all else. You have the gift in bucketfulls magic. Resist all temptation at a literal breakdown or you risk breaking your own well crafted and beautifully cast spells (7:-))

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Always better late than never, Scratch! :-) Thank you for such a lovely comment and for stopping by! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by rjnewlyn on
"Let the sun tell you about old age." No idea what it means and yet it works somehow. Wonderful. Rob

 

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Hi Rob! Great to hear from you :-)You know, I don't either, but as Scratch says, the language just seemed to work somehow! Thanks for reading! Magic xxx

 

Submitted by Firebird on
"Let the sun tell you about old age" ... What a beautiful line. Such a lovely piece , Magic. x:)

 

Submitted by seashore on
Loved all of it but the last line especially does it for me.

Submitted by MistakenMagic on
Thanks Firebird and seashore! Glad you enjoyed :-) Magic xxx