Laughing in Purgatory

You’re no angel.
Shining down on me from heaven?
You’re laughing your ass off
in purgatory at best.

No twee robes for you.
Now I’m laughing too
thinking of you
forced to float to harp song.

I want to call you to explain
how funny you would look.

Then I remember I can’t.
That’s when I cry.


A prompt so great, I had to play with it twice. Another one for Imaginary Gardens for Real Toads: Flash 55, Sad Song edition. I saw the video clip included One Sweet Day and it hit me so hard, this came out of it. The line I worked with was "Shining down on me from heaven".

23 comments:

  1. Yeah...that's about right. 💜

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  2. Alas... when we need that laughter the best is when we lack it the most.. I think the images of heaven is something I would shun...

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    1. Yeah, I don't think it suits a bunch of people I know :D

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  3. This has the highs and lows of remembering... But it is better than forgetting.

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    1. Yeah, forgetting would be the worst thing of all

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  4. Replies
    1. Especially "in purgatory at best."

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    2. LOL, I wanted a touch of sardonic humor in there

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  5. Ohhh, this is so poignant. Those last lines!

    (Sorry, posted this in wrong spot at first.)

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  6. Yes, the last two lines clinch it.

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  7. "Then I remember I can’t." That happened to me after someone I loved died. I cried too.

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    1. Yeah, there's this thing about grief where it can sucker punch you when you least expect it and it hurts almost as much as the moment you knew they were dead.

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  8. The first stanza made me spray tea on my lap. The last made lift my hand to my heart. The entire poem left me thinking, I know. This is a jewel, Rommy. Just precious, realistic, soul-moving poetry. ♥

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    1. I'm honored you think so. <3 Again, not every poem or short story is personal, but some of them are.

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