you are farewell incarnate, cold as a stone tablet.
Your masters dole out a new Fahrenheit, warming nothing
while whispering to the Ferryman that there are no coins, only handshakes.
You are farewell incarnate, cold as a stone tablet,
a corporeal machinery producing fine dust
while whispering to the Ferryman that there are no coins, only handshakes.
You palm medicine from your keepers to those already dead.
A corporeal machinery producing fine dust
is your rubber stamp of onionskin love, a doublespeak of no return.
You palm medicine from your keepers to those already dead
as your masters cry, "Hail! Assassin, in your golden robe!"
_______
A pantoum for Skylover's word list.
Pantoums are tricky, because they can often sound dull or forced in the repetition but here you ace it, making each flex of the lines snap and crackle like a Tesla coil. I especially like the final stanza (! and that turnaround last line)--I think the whole poem builds to that, and that's part of the delight of this form. AFA the subject matter--you nail it with bells on. Another exceptional piece, Shay.
ReplyDeleteThe repeating lines do pack a powerful punch to bring this message through. An utterly amazing pantoum Shay!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic pantoum (my fave form)....I especially love "there are no coins, only handshakes" for the Ferryman.
ReplyDeleteI love your stylish pantoum, Shay. thanks for using words from my June list.
ReplyDeleteI am okay, but went back to work on June 8, so it has been tough on my free time. Apologies for the late response.
Your masters dole out a new Fahrenheit, warming nothing
while whispering to the Ferryman that there are no coins...
So true of these incredible days of 2020!