all lightning struck and crumbling,
only knowing I had fallen
when the rubble broke bone.
This was the color of sky fragmented
by the prism of a bloody setting sun
that I had mistaken for a new day.
This was the sound of air
rattling in my chest
around the stalagmites
of unfinished conversations.
This was not the end
of the music in words
demanding to be recognized.
This was not the end of the story.
This was when I knew
some words deserved to be freed
to see what they will bloom into next.
This was me
making paper boats out of all my stories,
hoping one was sturdy enough
to carry me to the next shore.
making paper boats out of all my stories,
hoping one was sturdy enough
to carry me to the next shore.
Liner Notes for This Groove: This poem is linked to the Friday Writings prompt at Poets and Storytellers United.
So powerful! My favourite image: "the stalagmites / of unfinished conversations."
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was an interesting image when it came to me, and I'm glad it worked for other folks too.
Delete“Carry me to the next shore” … sigh and a lump in my throat.
ReplyDeleteMay we all reach that shore of peace in the next year.
DeleteI think the words carry you well. Trust them! (And you may even use them to continue those conversations, when the time is right.)
ReplyDeleteConversations definitely shall.
DeleteReally clever write, Rommy. I am glad for your paper boats, better but not as durable as a note in a bottle are those folded papers. I can't do that with my writes, literally at least, because they've not been kown to paper. I "write" a lot, as is this note, while I'm sitting on the edge of my bed using my old Galaxy S8 smart phone.
ReplyDeleteMy wish for you and yours is for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
..
I hope your Christmas is very Merry and your new year filled with delight.
Deletestalagmites
ReplyDeleteof unfinished conversations... what a beautiful image that is!
Thank you, Rajani
DeleteLuv the paper boats. So much adventure there
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays
Much💟love
Hope you have a merry Christmas, Gillena
DeleteThe last stanza found its way right to my heart and made a home there. Love the imagery, love the truths, love the hope.
ReplyDeleteThat last stanza makes me misty too... and I wrote it. :D
DeleteThis is so powerful:
ReplyDelete“when the rubble broke bone.
This was the color of sky fragmented
by the prism of a bloody setting sun
that I had mistaken for a new day.”
Thank you. I am glad it resonated.
DeleteThis sounds like a bad year but this is not the end of the story, like you said.
ReplyDeletei like the defiant tone in the poem. This is not what was lost, and defeat. This is about hope. :)
Yes indeed :)
DeleteThis is one of the beautiful and powerful poems, by you. I feel as if you had written it for me. So, thank you for the gift of a written word.
ReplyDeleteThat is the one of the best compliments I could get. I am so glad it resonated with you.
DeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteI hope that's a good wow. :D But thank you for reading. :)
DeleteNice work, just like all your work this year Rommy, may 2022 just fly to the moon! Peace and joy at this turning of the year!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays & a blessed New Year.🎄
ReplyDeleteI've got one of those "stalagmites of unfinished conversations" that been stuck in my chest for a while.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a story as a boat that floats out to be picked up and read by someone.
The boat will float to the next shore and gather your words there, always. But if the shore is washed, there are always more words stacked away in a corner of your paper boat.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading it. Let 2022 sail us to a shore of peacefulness!
ReplyDelete