Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Telling


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

30 comments:

Shawn said...

A very strong write.

when the things she could never say
began to drip, horrifyingly, from her lips

Exceptional!!

Claudia said...

oh 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

emmett wheatfall said...

Agreed. 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.

Anonymous said...

"Those flooding fibers..." I love this, the image of drowning in untold truths; the death of it. Great write.

Brian Miller said...

whew...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...

Bubba said...

Confession is good for the soul - and better late than never!

Anonymous said...

Wow- 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)

Gemma Wiseman said...

There comes a time when emotional secrets need to be set free!

RMP said...

wow! 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.

Mary said...

Eventually secrets rise to the surface and find their way out. It is hard to live with things that eat away inside. Good poem here!

ayala said...

I agree with Mary secrets find their way out.... And it's hard to live with things that eat away at us. Nice write.

Gerry Snape said...

yes...truth usually rears it's lovely head above the parapet and stares us bravely in the eyes....hard this one...thankyou!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Shawn...glad you found it so. Thanks for commenting!

Jennifer Wagner said...

You definitely picked up on her deep struggle...and I love your pun: "the last stanza is killer" Thanks Claudia!

Jennifer Wagner said...

emmett, thank you. I pictured the couplets coming much like her breaths...pausing to gain the confidence/strength to speak. I appreciate your words sir!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much stephanie. A great compliment and I appreciate your visit!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Brian, glad you found this piece effective. I agree, admissions can be freeing. And in this case, not too late.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Confession can indeed be cleansing. Thanks for your comment Eric!

Jennifer Wagner said...

I do enjoy a good face-slapping too Stu, poetically speaking. Thanks for your visit and comment...so appreciated.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I agree Gemma...can definitely be beneficial. Thanks!

Jennifer Wagner said...

RMP- thanks so much. I am partial to silence myself...sometimes though words do escape. And relief, a wonderful thing.

Jennifer Wagner said...

They do, don't they? You definitely saw the cause of death I was trying to portray. Thanks Mary!

Jennifer Wagner said...

ayala, thank you very much. Secrets do have a tendency to do that, I agree.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Gerry, thank you. It can be brave indeed to reveal the truth. Appreciate your visit!

Wendy Bourke said...

I 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.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I think I agree with you Doodles...at least that has been my experience and observation. Thanks for commenting on this one.

Scarlet said...

The ending lines are full of emotions and truth ~

Great to meet you ~

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Heaven...good to meet you as well :)

CathieT said...

Wow, your words conjure up a whole story there. Visual and emotive. Thanks!!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Cathie-thanks for visiting and commenting on this post! I appreciate your words :-)