Saturday, March 14, 2020

Slices of Rot


Licorice skin apples
hang from the tongue
waiting for gossip
to take its first bite.

Sisters of acid and brothers of blight
troll lips to see which are the most
susceptible to twist what is into what is not.

Night has its purpose…Light has its sin.
Truth has no rescue where lies learn to swim.

©Susie Clevenger 2020

The Sunday Muse #99
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12 comments:

  1. FireblossomMarch 14, 2020 at 1:07 PM

    Oh is this ever sharp and timely, Susie. I always love your endings, but in this one I particularly love that middle stanza!

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  2. Sherry Blue SkyMarch 14, 2020 at 1:37 PM

    I cant tell you how much I love this! Could not be said any better. We live in a world more bizarre than science fiction could ever have predicted. Because who could have predicted trump?

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  3. Carrie Van HornMarch 14, 2020 at 1:48 PM

    Such powerful images and a powerful message! I always love your wonderful style of saying what no one else is willing to say or acknowledge and saying it amazingly! This is poetry to feed the soul the medicine it needs! So glad to see you at the 99th Muse Susie!

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  4. HelenMarch 14, 2020 at 6:50 PM

    Just when I think your poetry could not thrill me more, you show me it can. Wow.

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  5. TruedessaMarch 14, 2020 at 7:31 PM

    The ending line is a powerful message. I wonder where is truth these days as it seems so twisted and distorted each day.

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  6. JimMarch 14, 2020 at 9:31 PM

    Used to be the Night was for sin to hide, the day was for cleansing. And I won't argue with "Night has its purpose…Light has its sin. Truth has no rescue where lies learn to swim." It is a cruel world in which we now live.
    Nice write, Susie. Full of goodies. I remember when licorice was good, it was my favorite candy. Now it is bad too. What relation are these to Eve in the Garden of Eden, she took the first bite.
    ..

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  7. hedgewitchMarch 15, 2020 at 6:20 AM

    That last couplet is pure gold. Malice is real, it is reflected back all around us, and it wields more power for harm than it ever has, as it becomes institutionalized everywhere we turn. Truth is a duty for every one of us now, and kindness more necessary than ever. This is a cunning and delicious bite of a not so sweet fruit, Susie.

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  8. qbitMarch 15, 2020 at 7:56 AM

    Very cool. Esp the last: "Truth has no rescue where lies learn to swim"

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  9. C. SandlinMarch 15, 2020 at 8:07 AM

    Love this. Laughed a little at the licorice line but that ending--ouch. What is not, living and spreading and devouring. *shivers*

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  10. indybevMarch 15, 2020 at 9:07 AM

    That last stanza is marvelous … well it's all marvelous. Great write!

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  11. kaykualaMarch 17, 2020 at 7:58 AM

    Night has its purpose…Light has its sin.
    Truth has no rescue where lies learn to swim.

    Beautiful close Susie! You have that special knack for words!

    Hank

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  12. Bekkie SanchezMarch 23, 2020 at 12:01 PM

    Those nasty people with black tongues!

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