I have birthed you, my darlings
from the womb between my ears
and bit and chewed you delicately
as you shrieked from my
plum lips
Succulent
I have had to murder you, my darlings,
for the sake of economical prose
and you are all my favorites
and I had to please the butcher
cynic
I have shrouded your frail corpses in the same
brown, crinkly paper; was a cradle—Alas!
I have had to mince you and stitch together your limbs
To form a monstrosity, deceptive—
“Poetry”
Author notes
Dear Judge Peripatetic,
I hope this entry suits your contest. The gentleman in your conversation basically asked: "So, do you give birth to red-haired children or brown-haired children?" Poetry expressed by people is often the best they have to offer. Poetry is poetry (I know you know this) whether it rhymes or not. They are children we must mold, improve and guide through our own fallacies.
And I do write both kinds of poetry, depending on the sex of the "child."
A contest entry
- Do You Write Serious Poetry or the Kind that Rhymes? (Contest) by Peripatetic.
1400 points, ended July 29, 2008, 27 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Oh, the horror! This is probably the most remarkably twisted metaphor I've ever seen on the subject of the process, even the need, for revision.
The line, "Succulent" reminds me of Anthony Hopkins' chilling yet compelling portrayal of the monstrously charming Hannibal Lechter.
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G'Day Avatar of Innocence
Whoa! So rare to read such a creative and original poem.
Love it and it's sense of depth
.♥.
Thank you for your entry
Best of luck
Stay safe
~Manda
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a very original take on the pains of poetry! 'I have had to please the butcher cynic' an interesting metaphor for the hard to please.
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Very creative! Especially in the "womb between my ears". Only a woman could write such a line, and I'm jealous. :-) I appreciate the toil that goes into write/revise/re-write. I swear I have stood on my head trying to make a line's wording come out correctly. Looking once again at the poem --- the line that ends with "butcher", only to be coupled with "cynic" on the next, is very powerful. I must learn to be cynical of my work! All in all, a very professional write and a pleasure to read.
A60sMan
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