― William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
I have eaten stars
but they brought their own gravity with them--
their own geography with them--
and now they unbalance me, so that I lurch and roll as I fall.
On the surface of the sun,
everyone is blind and everything is done gingerly--
every effort undertaken temporarily--
taking a million generations just to create a gesture that is gone in an instant.
Uncross your fingers and kiss me.
Meteors remember, but are too thick and stupid to talk--
language eludes them and they are as celibate as nuns.
I would forsake all liturgy if you would only be God's recollection and bless me.
I have eaten stars
but their light is checkerboarded inside my skin--
their light diffuses until I am dizzy and that is when
I lie and tell you I was home all day,
wrote nothing and
sold your name for a song.
_____
for Kerry at Real Toads.
A great refrain here, and especially strong visual imagery I think, Shay--love the image of the checkerboarded skin, and all the physical carrying through of the metaphor as well, and very moving poem. k.
ReplyDeleteWhat day do you write nothing? I want to know...
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of poem that really pushes at the edge of that vast terrifying emptiness inside us, like a baby must feel kicking the wall of the womb in the dark, having no clue what will happen next or why it's there. It's dangerous to swallow stars, huge balls of combustible nuclear material, yet when the need for light is great, perhaps the pain of their fire is worth it--in the end, we have to write our own liturgy, as the gods just can't be bothered, no matter how we believe in them. A poem that takes up so high I'm not sure there is any air to breathe up here, but I do feel I know the emptiness of space a bit better now.
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely!! I love the quote you chose :)
ReplyDeleteThe last line bombards the mind with possible scenarios explaining the selling of a song. Meanwhile all those stars seem to have been just shooting stars - a finale of light. A fascinating one.
ReplyDeleteThis is a stunner and I love al of it – and am particularly fond of 'uncross your fingers' which works almost as a throwaway line. (I adore throwaway lines ... when they work.)
ReplyDeleteA really exceptional poem, Shay. I read it big-eyed and mouth agape, savouring every remarkable twist of phrase, line and meaning. And what a picture!
ReplyDeleteThe title is outrageously good, as is the poem. I don't know HOW you keep doing this, but am so glad you do. Incredible writing.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Shay.
ReplyDeleteWhat Sherry said, X 2.
ReplyDeleteWow! Under these conditions of star-food--I'm surprised the narrator knows if she lies or truths! I love the images and even the song.
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible.
ReplyDelete