he speaks to the dead
not in a witch wart way
rather in trickles
the way telephones
sound when they were still
black and white
and he wasn’t yet
gray
he has blessed death
and other queer miracles
his teeth have touched both
crackers and the cracked
so now he sends a warning
to coffins and keyholes
screaming:
i understand
though i have a red knot for a mouth
and a gun for a belly
you will
not
eat me
like those footsteps
burning into shadows and sidewalks
the ones that return
to find his face
empty of flakes
and didn’t know
that bruises could fight
back
but he cools
to jade
unmoved at scabs
25 years in the making
and stands taller than
hospital beds
or the rage of gods
far older than him
his spine is a stone tree
and he leaves like a man
with a child’s swagger
owning this world
as it drowns in
his words
yet
i watch him
glow
from the spot
on his knees
where he has kneeled
only once
praying to apples
those red diamonds
that break at the
thought of gravity
but will never
fall
Author notes
...for you. Your courage and brilliance grow my admiration for you daily.
I love you, kiddo.
A contest entry
- see not the flame, know the artist, and understand blood. (invite only) by apples fell.
400 points, ended September 25, 2008, 34 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 21 of 21
-
Funny...the dead speak to me, honestly!
They have since I was small and simply thought I heard voices. Which I did! I won't go there, asked the Spirit to remove that gift, if you can call it that. As I've aged, their words are more defined. Even wrote a poem last year for a friend that had the last words his father spoke to him before passing over in the poem, words my friend never shared with me. Needless to say, my buddy was stunned when I read the poem to him, and broke into tears.
I always see every word you pen. Phenomenal!
Always ♥
Reneé
-
Amazing. He is precious, I just rediscovered him and am so glad. This is a wonderful write for him.
♥
whisper
-
Wow!
Nailed to the floor and then some...
She makes me sick...in a good way of course
You are all of this and so much more
Ending kicks ass and takes names while chewing bubble gum at the local corner store and shooting craps against the wall...Damn the girl is on fire!
♥Becky♥
-
beautiful poetry...
-
jarring !
-
Your words are so powerful, again I am amazed at them, and at the incisive voice in which you speak. So very ceative, descriptions that bind spells to them.
One point - second stanza, third line - 'his teeth have touched?' or, if intended to carry from 'he has blessed death' then a pause of some sort is needed after 'teeth'
-
Clearly I am dumbfounded. I was expecting of course great entries into my contest, but I was not expecting someone to write me a dedication piece or with me in mind, especially coming from someone as good of a writer as you. And the people who have commented before me are wonderful as well. I can't pick at this and I couldn't if I wanted to. The flow is incredible, the use of details are so brilliant and I just want you to know that you made me cry. Good tears of course, but tears. "he has blessed death
and other queer miracles" - How familiar and genius that is. Darcy I love you. You are such a dear friend to me. Expect a poetic response to this. I like to do that when I am deeply effected.
Brilliant writing also...If I could properly read it through the tears.
Thank you hun. Thank you for everything.
-
-
Oh, you two make me smile! It's so precious!
-
-
-
-
this is him... all over and through and through.. guns, bellies, love, apples, diamonds.. he is my diamond geezer and he knows this...
damn Darcy, you got it girl!!
love this
-
-
Awww! Hey babes. I hope you are doing alright sweetheart. I'm glad you are around girl. I was kind of worried. Your diamond geezer loves you.
-
-
"those red diamonds
that break at the
thought of gravity
but will never
fall"
The ending could not be more perfect
Although I have only recently met James, I am certainly glad - he is definitely a character; you've got to marvel at his honesty and perception! And, as always, your poetry.
I'm sure he will love this - good luck finding something to pick at James!
-
-
I am glad we met. You say kind words Allyce.
Thank you hun. And no...I couldn't critique this.
It's truly beautiful work.
-
-
This is a wonderful dedication to James! I've just recently been aquainted with him, and he's quite a guy (and writer ). Everything about this was perfectly thought-out and placed, and the last stanza/ending was pure gold. I agree, he will love it!
Jeanette*~
-
-
Yes, we just recently met, and already you have almost done all my poems on here...LOL. I will certainly have to post more at the rate you are reading them. I did love this...More than I could ever make apparent with just words. Is your picture there from the movie "house of wax"? Where paris hilton gets it...Which was my favorite part...
-
-
It's actually from deviantart. I forget the creds now, but I have them somewhere if you want to know But holy jeebus that was the best scene in any movie every made, ever
I've watched it over and over again
-
-
I know. It was totally great to watch her get a pipe through the head... It does look like something from that movie, if you really look closely at it. Thanks for telling me.
-
-
-
-
This is just so...so...James And I love him to bits as well and I know he will have that shocked look when he reads this and then get lost and tangled up in your words and all embarrassed and well he will just love it. Love, C
-
-
Shocked look? Try more like I just cried and still kind of am. The words were beautifully chosen and I felt like she nailed me, metaphorically so well. I am totally all messed up right now from the fact that she would write me something so wonderful. I love you too girl.
-
-
-
Adding your comment:
1 - 21 of 21
