under the blacklight
they glow green
and grow still
sometimes they’re
tucked into a nook
like a lost doubloon
ready to sting like a curse
for one stolen
pieces of eight
sometimes they fall with a plump green thump
on the lawn burning white
in the moon’s light
sitting like plastic children’s rings
stuck into the green buttercream of supermarket
cupcakes near all hallows’ eve, harmless—
or like tonight, behind my eyes
while dreaming, a memory, a fog of gray-green
shadow moving scorpion-like,
not carrying enough venom
to kill,
but still—
© 2025 jennifer wagner
Wow! What a twist (a a good reminder that bad dreams can't really kill). Brilliant
ReplyDeleteOoh yes a real sting in the tail to end this tale - and a suitably seasonal verse - Jae
ReplyDeleteThose peripheral peeking things only catch the conscious eye just so -- fleetingly, almost unawares. Until we dream and the moon shines full. When are you going to collect and publish your work? Self-publishing has gotten a lot easier if those sniffy gatekeepers are too daunting. You sure should be published.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brendan. In addition to reading my poems, you've been reading my mail. I've been thinking about self-publishing lately. I've never tried the traditional route, which does seem daunting indeed. Thanks again, so much, for your encouragement!
Deleteit is the metre and narrative that gives so much poetry to these lines. The reader is immediately intrigued and the doubloon was a brilliant placement. Love the soft pace with the ultimate sting
ReplyDeleteI love the way it reads like a mystery.... that faint glow, combined with the ending...
ReplyDeleteThis is a deceptively simple write, Jennifer, catching the reader with that sting in the tail! Stunning.
ReplyDelete