clapboard shivered on the old outhouse
groaning endlessly against howling wind
as I stare through worn slats
across a life of desolation
comforted not by the green of rolling hills
nor future’s pile of carpet, cushioning toes
trapped am I, forever haunted
assaulted by memory
held immobile by its tyranny
coal dust visions assault sense
marking me with yesterday’s pain
covering eyes with hopeless darkness
secured by the resilience of belts and words
held in cruel hands,
dripping from sadistic mouths
my hope abysmally scarred
soul unworthy of salvation
and I remain the vision of myself
through another's eyes
even when the wind dies
and plates extend freedom’s bounty
I am cold, shivering
starved
left digging
with poverty’s insatiable hunger
riddled with the welts of abuse
rising with desperation of self
I expect nothing
and receive less
as the ice of emotional blame
is frozen eternally
by my own despair…
In a list
A contest entry
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein by Everwind Rising.
1500 points, ended November 13, 2008, 6 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
-
This gives me the feeling of poverty to be found in a miner's cabin, being from mining country. I remember this contest's prompt was the tyranny of despair and think you did an excellent job with it, as the Gold attests.
-
This is great. You really expanded and exprlored the prompt realizing it's potential. You took me into the prompt with this well thought out and crafted piece. Your imagery is great and the whole piece is really seamless in it's flow of thought as well as imagery.
-
Very powerful wording and images!
(loved the outhouse image - I used to HATE my grandparent's outhouse!...lol)
The depth of emotion and abuse is very striking in this. Great wording!
Excellent!
best wishes in your contest.
Adding your comment:
