she carpeted her windswept fears with conversational
banality
every time he chanced upon her truths
when those raw elements exuded from her blood to her tissues
she could hold them back no longer
she had no more strength to restrain
those flooding fibers,
the secret self, less understood but more familiar even
than the blouse of self-belittlements she had grown
accustomed to
with tremulous hand she peeled back the covers of her
deathbed
confession
when the things she could never say
began to drip, horrifyingly, from her lips
she knew she’d been dying to tell him
it was death not to
Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner
Linked in the 1st Anniversary Edition of dVerse Poets Pub OpenLinkNight
Linked in the 1st Anniversary Edition of dVerse Poets Pub OpenLinkNight
A very strong write.
ReplyDeletewhen the things she could never say
began to drip, horrifyingly, from her lips
Exceptional!!
Thanks Shawn...glad you found it so. Thanks for commenting!
Deleteoh heck...this is so tough that she was silent all her life and then she wasn't just strong enough to hold it back any longer...trying to act in another way than we feel needs almost unbelievable strength..i'm feeling sad for her...the last stanza is killer...sums it up perfectly
ReplyDeleteYou definitely picked up on her deep struggle...and I love your pun: "the last stanza is killer" Thanks Claudia!
DeleteAgreed. A very strong write. Love the structure of the poem. The use of couplets let's the poem breathe. A very good prose poem indeed.
ReplyDeleteemmett, thank you. I pictured the couplets coming much like her breaths...pausing to gain the confidence/strength to speak. I appreciate your words sir!
Delete"Those flooding fibers..." I love this, the image of drowning in untold truths; the death of it. Great write.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much stephanie. A great compliment and I appreciate your visit!
Deletewhew...effective for sure...and some nice plays on dath and dying to...it is hard to admit some things...bu what freedom we feel when we do...hopefully not too late...
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian, glad you found this piece effective. I agree, admissions can be freeing. And in this case, not too late.
DeleteConfession is good for the soul - and better late than never!
ReplyDeleteConfession can indeed be cleansing. Thanks for your comment Eric!
DeleteWow- this was TOUGH.... To spill your guts on your deathbed..to have stayed silent all this time....phew....the last few lines just slapped me round the face (that's a good thing)
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a good face-slapping too Stu, poetically speaking. Thanks for your visit and comment...so appreciated.
DeleteThere comes a time when emotional secrets need to be set free!
ReplyDeleteI agree Gemma...can definitely be beneficial. Thanks!
Deletewow! I've always been partial to silence, but I wait eagerly for this moment you've described where not telling is no longer an option. I can only imagine the relief it would bring. really nice piece.
ReplyDeleteRMP- thanks so much. I am partial to silence myself...sometimes though words do escape. And relief, a wonderful thing.
DeleteEventually secrets rise to the surface and find their way out. It is hard to live with things that eat away inside. Good poem here!
ReplyDeleteThey do, don't they? You definitely saw the cause of death I was trying to portray. Thanks Mary!
DeleteI agree with Mary secrets find their way out.... And it's hard to live with things that eat away at us. Nice write.
ReplyDeleteayala, thank you very much. Secrets do have a tendency to do that, I agree.
Deleteyes...truth usually rears it's lovely head above the parapet and stares us bravely in the eyes....hard this one...thankyou!
ReplyDeleteGerry, thank you. It can be brave indeed to reveal the truth. Appreciate your visit!
DeleteI want to believe that truth finds away - even hard truth. Though hard truth often finds a less direct and more damaging path - particularly if it is endlessly pushed down and reality tries to gain a foot hold.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with you Doodles...at least that has been my experience and observation. Thanks for commenting on this one.
DeleteThe ending lines are full of emotions and truth ~
ReplyDeleteGreat to meet you ~
Thanks Heaven...good to meet you as well :)
ReplyDeleteWow, your words conjure up a whole story there. Visual and emotive. Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteCathie-thanks for visiting and commenting on this post! I appreciate your words :-)
Delete