I can clearly recall the place I was conceived; in the artery of the earth, next to her beating heart. In the beginning, when I was young, my constitution was flexible, vulnerable and worthless, but time, it brought me close together, knit me tight in clarity and made me strong, so strong.
I was unbreakable.
Stars grew, burned bright, and died in the time that passed before the earth rolled over in sleep; anxious, and feverish. Her veins boiled hot and she pushed me closer to the sun on streams of molten rock, which quickly calmed, solidifying into dense cocoons. There I was confined until the day the kimberlite cracked. It was a dreadful, uneasy cracking; as though it were being aided by some unnatural force; and so it was.
I did not have a name for this "force" but its image was disturbing. Its soul was hidden beneath a cloudy and dull surface; his grip was harsh and wild, and it did not deface his conscience to break me from my sooty sheets. They call me "adámas"; a name I did not know, but found to be like a marriage of strength, and failure, and thus it suited me well.
I was unbreakable.
We all were, until they thought to press our bodies against one another, and then we crumbled. They shaved our flesh, and held us down with golden ties. We faded into an idea, a representation of a bond supposedly as unbreakable as us, and apparently just as easily broken.
They called me adámas, unbreakable, untamed. The irony was painful and clear. I was unbreakable once, and once I was not tame, but that was once, and this is now,
and I have no say in the matter.
Author notes
Adámas- the Greek word for diamond, also meaning unbreakable and untamed.
kimberlite- volcanic rock
Child of Intellect
- Poetic adventures group list • next in list
A contest entry
- The Best of the Year by Bean Sidhe.
1350 points, ended January 3, 51 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Silver dollars and empty lungs (prewrites) by Writing0Freedom.
600 points, ended December 1, 279 entries
• next poem in this contest, • Add to finalists list, or remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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Beautiful peace of writing, I enjoyed reading it.
Nela
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True Adamas is so purified and hard, but always there is a soft point in it where you can split it
Glad you know of The Greek term, for ancient Greek is the language of the gods
lovely write
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...this is amazing and I love it, and I'm going to bookmark it. But it's more prose than poetry, so I'm afraid I have to DQ it from the contest. I'm sure you are capable of amazing poetry; I'd love to see some verse from you in this contest.
Elizabeth
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Unfortunately, this is probably the best nature piece I have written
but thank you so much for the read and the lovely comment
Carrie
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love it
nice metaphors
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Oh, this is lovely. There is a strong taste of metaphor and brilliant word usage by the last line. I love the fact that you introduced me to two new words as well. Thank you for following the rules and adding your name to your author's note - I will be certain to check more of your work out. Great job!
Thank you for your entry & good luck in the contest! -
Amazing, I am truly speechless, and it has been a while since someone has made me unable to find words to express how amazing this write is.. You really reached in and brought something really powerful out.. Thank you very much for sharing. I truly loved this write..
Angel
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This is excellent. You know how I love objects and their personalities. Whimsical, bizarre, wistful- you have taken something that is universally accepted as hard, secure, crystalline and perfect and rendered it vulnerable, sensing, sensitive, and thoroughly imperfect.
"It's soul" shouldn't have the apostrophe.
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Thanks Max
I think you may have channeled some of yourself into me lately because my writing has gotten better... kidding. I can't give you all the credit.
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This was rich in detail and emotion. A really great way to bring a diamond to life in a way that I never would have seen it.
CJ
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AMAZING STUFF...SHOWS UR GREAT INNER STRENGTH...WHICH U CLEARLY POTRAYED THRU UR WORDS...
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This is a really amazin write! What a great idea for a short story, well done - loved reading it!
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Very well-written; I so enjoy reading what "things" might think about themselves, and us... and this does an excellent job of looking at the inanimate through a laser lens.
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Wonderful; a hard look at a surface...
Bravo. I enjoyed this imagery and irony so much; a subtle power in these lines. What an engaging idea. You pulled off a wonderfully imaginative story of diamond and its effects and how the crafters and 'her' admirer's learned to shape and cage her ("They stripped my flesh, and forced me into ridged, hostile braces which barred each thought of independence.") You should be proud of yourself for bringing this piece out as you have.
AsIThink...
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such a beautiful metaphor...
many people try to use certain terms to represent a human situation, but this could easily be as true of a literal term as that of an inferred one. This sparks so many side metaphors to mind as well. How the pressure that one is under can form a beautiful and creative thing for example. Much as the formation of a diamond. Kudos to your originality.
ps good to see you writing still
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Thank you. I told you I would be back from time to time
I just cut back and let my mind concentrate on fewer pieces that would hopefully turn out better and more personal. I am glad you liked this one.
Carrie
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Stunning piece! nuff said!
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holy wow
that is amazing. this is amazing. breathtaking.
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