And a snake's head in a handkerchief.
What a fool I was.
Every April, she crouched on the muddy roads
Like something not human.
First warmth carries taint,
And she rolled until she was filthy with it;
Don't think there weren't those who admired her.
A sick sky will deny that it ever held clouds
And a thousand lies without pause will make it rain,
If only in the upturned palm of a lunatic.
I brought her a ring made from poisonous metal,
And instructions on how to drown herself.
A gray cat is no haloed nun,
So if I grew claws from the ends of my fingers,
It was only to prove before the maypoles went up
That God was mad or that she was.
________
Shay, I've read this four times, and it just gets better each time. I won't even try to explain how or why because I'm not sure I know that much, I just know this is one of the best things I've ever read. That middle stanza is beyond my abilities to describe. Fine fine poem.
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ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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I agree with Hedgewitch. This one required multiple readings to scratch the surface and see what lies underneath. Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteA sick sky will deny that it ever held clouds
ReplyDeleteAnd a thousand lies without pause will make it rain,
If only in the upturned palm of a lunatic.
damn. that may be the best stanza i have read this week...no joke. hot stuff shay.
"A sick sky will deny that it ever held clouds" - what a line!
ReplyDeleteGoing back to read it again. :-)
I read it over and over, too. Very cool, Shay.
ReplyDeleteI'm with hedgewitch .. re-reading it til I know it by heart
ReplyDeleteThis is just damn cool.
ReplyDeleteThis poem is awesome..... I agree with the rest ... I've re-read it a couple times... still reading :)
ReplyDeleteI fall in line with everyone else. A must read! More than several times. Incredibly powerful, Ms. Shay!
ReplyDeleteI admire her, like I admire you...filth or no filth, chica. Brilliant work!
ReplyDeleteWow, this one is really cool!!!
ReplyDeletei'm just echoing everyone else ~ this is one of your best and even better with each new reading! i bow to the talent which is Shay! ♥ {i'll even curtsy if you prefer}
ReplyDelete