a hard grief down in the dark family blood--
and I can't turn monkshood to maple sugar by denying it.
Still,
There is the Sunflower Road
and this warm-going afternoon--
the bug on his back doesn't talk rot or doubt my hollow-stalked soul
when I flip him in my palm
and watch his simple ascent.
Yes, baby,
one day I'll line the lily casket with my wicked bones
sweet as cane in the marrow;
black-dress ladies'll allow as to how I had my uses,
and later they'll slice peach pie and fan themselves with prayer cards
like pretty caged birds.
All of this is why--
plain-root simple-face bloom that I am--
I tell you honest,
same as you have always been with me,
that I could not have found my way
without you.
______
photo by Shanyn Silinski
posted for Real Toads Open Link Monday #19 and Monday Melting #9
Very strong visuals in this one, especially that third stanza--I can see the whole funeral coming down the aisle with all 'the pretty caged birds' looking at the lily pale gypsy with a measured respect and a bit of wistfulness for the risks never taken she represents.
ReplyDeleteThe details make this one exceptional, too--the 'hollow-stalked soul' and the prayer cards, and of course the loving ending, which reminds me that Honesty is also a flower.
This is as gentle as holding hands, but with all of your sharp wit. Gorgeous writing, Shay.
ReplyDeletesmiles...a rather heart warming and endearing end to this one...
ReplyDeletei would def want one of those fans too....it is hot as the dickens tonight....
I really like this one, Shay. So real I can feel the breeze from them prayercards.
ReplyDeleteWhy hit them over the head with a hammer when a circus mallet will do? This was one powerful piece!
ReplyDeleteThe line that stuck out the most for me was:
"one day I'll line the lily casket with my wicked bones
sweet as cane in the marrow"
The opening is hard-hitting and strikes deep (in the helix):
ReplyDelete"There is a wound deep in the helix--
a hard grief down in the dark family blood"
"one day I'll line the lily casket with my wicked bones" ... :)
"that I could not have found my way
without you" ... Indeed. Sometimes it takes the naysayers and self-worth-strippers to make you see who you are and who you will be, regardless of outside opinions.
Thanks so much for playing, Shay.
~Shawna
rosemarymint.wordpress.com
"black-dress ladies'll allow as to how I had my uses,
ReplyDeleteand later they'll slice peach pie and fan themselves with prayer cards" — oh, Shay — "allow as to how I had my uses" just cracks me up, I expect people would have said that about me if I'd died 30 years ago.
Love love love this.
K
your diction here is seamless. just beautiful flow. and the straight talk... hit me over and over, and i had to do more than one of those long exhales of truth, rightly wrought.
ReplyDeletei'm keeping this one.
I'm with Kay I expect when I go that's what they'll say but then they'll look at one another, roll their eyes and look away
ReplyDeleteMy emotions - and admiration - mounted line by line, at this SPECTACULAR writing - and the last stanza is so warm and wonderful it warmed my vicariously-living heart. Shay, you just keep outdoing yourself.
ReplyDeleteThere is a Sunflower Road..
ReplyDeleteIf you say so I will believe and trust it is so. I hope to find my way there one day :)
This is a beautiful affirmation of all that is profoundly good about relationships.
its that sarcastic tone of intervening lines that gives to this the characteristic edge and as I come to your blog I keep looking for just that.may be thats not doing justice to the whole, but i really dig that edgy feel.brilliant again.
ReplyDeleteNext time I'm out my line of the night is going to be "back off bitch before I line the lily casket with your wicked bones"..that would scare the hell out of anyone....lol.
ReplyDeleteYou have the best relationship visuals and pretty real glimpses at those feelings that aren't all candy and flowers.Hollah!!!!!
Like the wind-up.
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
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Lovely! Thank you for sharing how you were inspired by my photo.
ReplyDelete"There is a wound deep in the helix--
ReplyDeletea hard grief down in the dark family blood--"
brilliant opening! i wasn't expecting such a tender, beautiful ending. LOVE this!
♥
This one made me cry.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of the Ladies with their fans and pie after the funeral. A lot of other great images as well.
ReplyDelete