dipped in coal

thread worms dipped in coal
hung beside her chest
and curled inward
protecting pulses

on bad days
she’d cut their bodies in two
and keep their brains
and feelings trapped
in a jar

on good days
she wouldn’t
glue the lid on

but smile
at the lifeless ends

as if they resembled
the alert stems
of a rare agapanthus

Author notes

Prompt: storing your heart like widowed black threads.

Note to judge: I took the prompt apart, I hope you don't mind. By seperating "storing," "heart," "black," and "threads" I wound up with this.

Image credit

In a list

Poetry beginning with D • next in list

A contest entry

Reserve a Number and wait.... by Cannonsfire. 3500 points, ended July 14, 22 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest

.

Comments

1 - 6 of 6

By me, right now

Adding your comment:
Topnotchsy
July 10
Edit | Reply

I love the prompt, and you took it and ran with it. Best of luck in the contest with this poem.
AwesomeJoshsome
July 6

Edit | Reply

It's a dark but I liked it it has lots of cool images that just float into my brain as I read it. good luck!!
Cannonsfire
July 6
Edit | Reply

I liked it a lot, it's dark and raw in it's approach C
J Macabre
July 4

Edit | Reply

Oh man the second stanza to this was simply excellent...i loved the mental image i got...even though probobly not meant to be taken litteralty. Great take on the prompt.
perfectsunset
July 3

Edit | Reply

Woah... this one blew me away.
You have very original thoughts
and you display them in a way
that us readers thirst for more.
I love your language in this
and the deep concepts,
where each time you read,
you gain new understanding
you may have not the previous time.

Best wishes
Cannonsfire
July 2
Edit | Reply

storing your heart like widowed black threads.