she slept,
in the afterlife of wakefulness,
one leg stretched taut,
anaemic sunshine pooling
like orangeade
in the rigid arch of her foot,
the expended day tangled around a sharply bent knee,
a dawn rising in the exclamation of her hip,
one hand shielding her indifferent ear,
a flattened palm
pushing against an obstinate headboard;
a defiant poem refusing to stay within the lines,
within the page,
even in repose,
tassels of the swirling night,
clenched tight in her outraged fist,
only her eyes,
moving,
alive,
in a more bearable reality;
he watched her,
her breath like screams,
like songs,
heavy with the sediment
of imploded dreams,
his lips moved in pagan chants,
stars spilling like prayer beads
from the tired limbs of light,
he gathered the fugitive words,
his fingers sewing ellipses
into roseate promises,
soft against the vector of her neck;
a poem that straddled undrawn lines,
that rose and fell,
that claimed both heaven and hell;
he watched her sleep,
folding and refolding time,
moving,
alive,
into believable imagery.
Oh this piece is so beautifully sensual as the light moves, before merging into real philosophical imagery. This will surely become one of my ever-growing list of favourites of yours.
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Much appreciated.. am so glad you dropped in to read today.
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Watching someone sleep is so personal. Love “stars spilling like prayer beads.” The images this poem brought to my mind were inspired poetry.
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Thank you Bekkie.
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“sediment of imploded dreams”
I am intimately acquainted with that kind of detritus…
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I think we can all relate to it at some level!! Thanks so much for stopping by.
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Rich, spontaneous images fill the mind…It’s so beautifully done!
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Thank you Panchali 🙂
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Bravo! Never has “a defiant poem” had more “believable imagery” and” bearable reality’ The total seductiveness here is what I wish for. Sleep is also vital, especially in the wake of this marvel-ous happening. I’m glad this one didn’t get away.
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Thanks so much Susan, greatly appreciate your comment.
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Wow. This is stupendous writing. Each line is a vivid image about the creation of vivid images. Reality filtered through poetry. The afterlife of wakefulness is such a rich, original thought. All you write is so full of beauty and originality. You have a special talent. Loved reading this!
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Thank you Myrna for you very kind comment. Appreciate it greatly.
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the reader is asked to choose : what is real and what is not.
very vivid imagery in the words. 🙂
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Thanks so much… would love to know what you thought… real or not?
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Rich vivid detail that invites the reader to linger, to see and know the moment,
Elizabeth
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Thank you Elizabeth.
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Every line a revelation.
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Thanks Rosemary 🙂
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wow! a journey into imagery, as only you could chart its path
Thanks for dropping by my Sunday Lime today
much love…
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Thank you Gillena…
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This is an amazing write. The description of how she has arranged her limbs is so vivid. I especially love the second stanza, her breath “like screams, like songs”, “stars spilling like prayer beads”. Really wonderful to read and envision.
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Thank you Sherry, glad you liked it.
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A bearable reality indeed…what a tremendous write as I felt that ‘afterlife of wakefulness’ both in life and poem as the words unfolded and line upon line were revealed…I was left breath less!
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Thanks so much Donna.
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I enjoyed the image of folding and refolding time into believable imagery. Now THAT would be quite a remarkable feat.
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Think we try to do that quite often by curating our memories based on our emotional state.! Thanks Mary.
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The observer often feels torn what to do to ease the sleepers thoughts by gently touching them or perhaps not for they may not remember the dream in the morning. A comforting arm has worked for me but that is not guaranteed!
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Thanks for stopping by Robin!
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For me I got a sense of camera moving slowly through the scene telling a story with only visuals. Stunning
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Thanks so much Bjorn!!
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You have captured the discomfort of restless nights and aching for dreams – a more bearable reality – the awkwardness of her body almost fighting the sheets ..that she has someone by her side i hope is a comfort..
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Thanks Jae 🙂
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You had me at the opening lines ❤ such a powerful write 🙂
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Thank you Sanaa 🙂
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This poem stirs my soul and leaves me awed and wordless.
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Thanks so much Tiostib, glad you liked it.
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A splendid and vivid read indeed, good stuff. Greetings!
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Thanks so much 🙂
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