Talking to the past is as good as reading fiction
My hand is tethered
to vellum and stained
a favored drawing ink: sepia.
New is old and old is renewed.
Scars are imprinted
on so many onion skins —
a bibliography was consulted.
(But the wrong records were retained.)
Fold my fingers
over yours — as dry as bark —
drape an arm. Tonnage of years
moldering in a mist yet to be
devoured in tomorrow’s sun.
* * *
This is based on a can’t-do-it-reaction to Kristen’s prompt at Read Write Poem. Others probably could, and did, so you might check out the results here.
My poem used quite a few of the words from Jessica’s Wordle prompt the week before. I probably should have found a place for a sapient belly dance, but ran out of bus time.
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i love the last stanza. it’s beautiful!
very nice
Very nice, esp the last stanza.
I’ve always thought that when you can’t do it, write a poem about not being able to.
It always works.
I enjoy the metaphor here of book (fiction) and skin (vellum).
Great beginning..
stuff I never told you
Thanks for reading everyone. I will probably rewrite this sometime and start with the last stanza. :-)
Phil, I’m glad you like the metaphor. I like it, too.
What an intriguing use of those words. I loved your comment about running out of bus time! Since NaPoWriMo, I have learned to write in coffee breaks (since I drive rather than using buses)
your poem leaves the same sad-sweet feeling in the air that comes from looking through an old book or finding forgotten photos. beautiful.
(I’d really like to see a poem about a sapient belly-dance…)
I love your can’t-do-it reaction. Great use of the Wordle words.
Also, I love that you are writing poetry on the bus. I think we should organize a day where poets ride around on buses writing poems. Then they could share what they wrote at a central online location and maybe even at bus stops. Kind of like the Poetry on Buses project, but way cooler.
Great poem, Deb. I especially love the last stanza. How long is your bus ride? A nice use of your time.
Your wasp photo in the header is shockingly good!
Thanks for reading, everyone!
Break writing is really important to me. My bus commute is about 25 minutes. Not very long. (Waiting at stops is longer, but I am not so good at standing & writing.)
Bus project would be fun, Dana. Or maybe a commuting project so it is more inclusive.
Cristine, thanks! The random headers are really random. I like the wasps, too. Love the one whose but is on end. ;-)
i love it — esp the last stanza. “fold my fingers over yours” calls to me for some reason.
The image of the last stanza really stuck with me after reading this. Lovely piece