the chilly calm where words
hang in icicle spikes waiting
on faith to perform a ceremony of trust
you are what your kiss spoke on my lips.
Fragile stalks me as if I should accept
its curse, become a fainting, messy chapter
in a romance novel I would cringe at reading.
I am more attuned to dark magic than
a simpering, palpitating heart weak
wish for a golden wand to slap you
into what I want you to feel for me.
This sleeping bus of weirdest emotions
is the silly, severe heart crashing I’ve
never imagined I’d be trapped in.
Stop laughing at me as if I were a guppy
swimming in a fish tank waiting for attention
(even though I am), and tell me whether
the fruit of this moment will bring blessing
or rot on my memory until I grow nothing but bitter.
©Susie Clevenger 2024
Word Garden Word List ~ Night Road
Gah. This is insanely good, Susie, and those two closing stanzas are astounding. Love "This sleeping bus of weirdest emotions ...I've never imagined I'd be trapped in" really speaks to me. And the guppy - (even though I am). I so loved this. My words are having trouble these days but I tap away, hopefully anyway. LOL. Just so freaking tired.
ReplyDeleteIn uncertainty lies possibility. For myself, I've found that the only one that golden wand slaps in any positive direction is me. (I adore that stanza btw!) You've depicted a very tricky state of mind and heart here--strong, vivid emotion caught in temporary stasis, and it's maddening. You're right, it could end up shooting off in any direction but the one situation it can't abide is staying where it is. Good stuff, Susie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating poem. Somehow I think you worked in ALL of the words. So many different images. I loved the last stanza about the guppy swimming in a fish tank looking for attention.It made me smile!
ReplyDeleteGreat poem, Susie!
ReplyDeleteI love:
"I am more attuned to dark magic than
a simpering, palpitating heart weak
wish for a golden wand to slap you
into what I want you to feel for me."
A turbulent stream of emotion and imagery but finally so endearing (to the observer) though the one in "this sleeping bus of weirdest emotions" may feel silly as all get out! Loved it, Susie.
ReplyDeleteThis is excellent! I really like "you are what your kiss spoke on my lips." Wow.
ReplyDelete