Thursday, December 6, 2012

Slave (The Calling of Manumit)



One lung full while the other
constricts,                      
shrivels,

crushed beneath this weight
I can’t think, can’t  resist,
weakened
by the purchase of screws
I held myself down for
and bled my tears
listening to the
sweet sound
of mourning doves.

I have forgotten You
and I confess
sometimes I think You are gone,
abandoned me
for greener fields
of those more faithful.

But You say I am Your temple—
chained as I am to memory,
so please keep holding out keys
to this puzzle of wings

I am putting together
to fly away from ghostly apparitions
that visit me in my dreams.
They kiss me on the forehead

and keep me from the tiny living temples
that matter at all to me.

Serpent of haunting,
you’ve bitten, but you are crushed,

and I, while breathing in a whisper from the moon
through windows
streaming enlightened threads

in reflection of daylight,
in the back of my mind
I hear it

in each pump of blood
from my heart
I know
I know

I was meant to be free.
 



Copyright 2012 Jennifer Wagner

I'll be linking this to Poets United Poetry Pantry

53 comments:

carol l mckenna said...

Powerful poetry and so well created ~ Wow! ~ (A Creative Harbor) ~ aka 'artmusedog'

Brian Miller said...

wow...felt piece....the crushing weight....the promises there in the middle, ugh...and the knowing you were born for freedom in the end...i hope they find it...

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much Carol.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I do too...

Deepak Kripal said...

that is wonderful.. artfully crafted, beautifully woven... loved it... awesome

Anonymous said...

Powerful. Intense. " Serpent of haunting,
you’ve bitten, but you are crushed" Love that line!

Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene) said...

New visitor. Hoping you will answer my knock when I knock again.

This was subtle in the personal emotional reaches yet quite poignant to my soul. thank you for sharing

Nene (newbie)

Anonymous said...

so many wonderful lines in this piece - love the "serpent of haunting..." lines and the final "I was meant to be..." especially. Great write.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Streaming enlightened threads - love this line!

Dr. Pearl Ketover Prilik (PKP) said...

The last line rings as clarion call :)

Daydreamertoo said...

This is powerful and intense and has such a depth of knowledge. I love the seeming despair of this and yet, the leaving with the little ray of hope at the end for the freedom which they know is rightfully theirs.
Phew.... wonderful write.

Grace said...

Great emotional lines until the closing line ~

I specially like these lines:

Serpent of haunting,
you’ve bitten, but you are crushed,

and I, while breathing in a whisper from the moon

Mary said...

Wow, this is a weighty well written poem. Saddened me greatly with its intensity.

Kerry O'Connor said...

so please keep holding out keys
to this puzzle of wings

I am putting together
to fly away from ghostly apparitions
that visit me in my dreams.
They kiss me on the forehead...

I love this image among the many visuals in your piece.

Abin Chakraborty said...

powerful stuff.wonderfully crafted.one could almost feel him gasping and panting.

brudberg said...

Very well written poetry. I love it.

WabiSabi said...

I really enjoyed reading this emotionally riveting poem. You have some wonderful images and I especially love the "puzzle of wings' the speaker is putting together! Terrific! and your last lines ... so hopeful! Thank you for sharing.

aelfbee said...

I feel the air hunger - and the hope. Great poem.

ScottlB said...

Excellent work here,

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

Really wonderful, wonderful write. Such a quietly powerful piece--I really loved this!

Lisa Williams said...

What an intense, beautiful poem. I love "and I, while breathing in a whisper from the moon".

rch said...

Some powerful words and I love how it's laid out, freely but every word so carefully placed, really great. I also wrote of temples this week so doubly enjoyed your take.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Jennifer. Quite simply, one of your best. And wow!

Wolfsrosebud said...

so much passion and beauty in your words

Panchali said...

Crystal clear purity of thought. Well portrayed, Poet Laundry! Amazing...

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Excellent write.

Anna :o]

Unknown said...

You have stitched together so many fine images, deep with meaning and emotion. I am touched by the manner in which you weave despair and frustration with hope and possibility. This seems to emerge from the loom of a master weaver.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you very much deepak.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Kiana--appreciate it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks for visiting my blog nene, and for your very kind words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Robyn!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Pearl :)

Jennifer Wagner said...

You are one of the best commenters ever Bren. Thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Grace, always appreciate your words.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I think 'weighty' is the perfect word for it Mary. And with an intense sadness. You always nail it.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Kerry! I'm a big fan of the imagery you use in your writing, so this is a great compliment to me.

Jennifer Wagner said...

...or she...smiles...thanks so much Abin.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Brudberg, love your haiku.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you WabiSabi! I am so glad to have been introduced to your blog--thanks for sharing YOUR work. I'm a big fan!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Libby.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much T.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks so much Audrey! I'm a big fan of your work, so your compliment really means a lot.

Jennifer Wagner said...

My favorite line of the piece--thank you Lisa, always love your thoughts on my writes.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Great minds...:) Thanks rch.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you Sherry. That is encouraging because I hesitated on posting it.

Jennifer Wagner said...

A lovely compliment wolfrosebud, thank you.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you so much...your thoughts always encourage me Panchali.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thank you!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Wow, Kim, thank you. Your words here really mean a lot to me. You always leave such great comments. And I'm a fan of your writing too.

Anonymous said...

The opening, all the way to "screws", is enviably well-done. The piece overall is a great read, truly.

Jennifer Wagner said...

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate your comment on it.

Tank said...

This is such a powerful piece - we were all meant to be free. Thank you for writing, I love it!

Jennifer Wagner said...

Oh yes, meant to be free...really glad you like it, thanks for commenting gorgeous man.