Image: Susie Clevenger
The air is thick with empty.
Windowpanes wink with passing cars,
but no one stops to read my lips anymore.
I live in a burnt candle moon
where arms atrophy
from the loss of touch.
I’m words on a screen, a photograph,
a video wading through pretend trying
to trust I’ll reach flesh and blood.
©Susie Clevenger 2020
This exudes that tenuous, stretched feeling of alienation and displacement, beginning at the very first line. Sometimes of late it feels as if our entire existence has become isolated, pixelated, if you will, and bloodless--so perfectly captured in the images here--of a face speaking soundless behind a window, a burnt out moon, and the final removal to an abstract, electronic existence. Beautifully played, Susie--and like all the best 55's, so hard to believe you did it all in just those few words. Thanks for joining us, and try to have a non-pretend kickass weekend.
ReplyDelete"from the loss of touch"
ReplyDeleteThis hits in all the right places, Susie. Wonderful writing,as always ...
I love "I live in a burnt candle moon."
ReplyDeleteYou had me from that first line, Susie.
ReplyDelete"The air is thick with empty" Wow this is one deep and gorgeous line Susie! Dark or light your poetry is always inspiring!
ReplyDeleteWow, just wow! I should come here more often.
ReplyDeletebrilliant first line, and the rest superbly conveys that suppressed feeling so many must be experiencing ~
ReplyDelete