Safety

Termites gnawing at her flesh
worms sucking the marrow of her skull
maggots chewing at her brain
She tried to scream
wasps in her mouth
snakes writhing around her limbs
standing in mud to her knees
Oysters and mussels stabbed at her feet
surrounded by mangroves
reaching out with
all encompassing roots and branches
The water flooding the swamp
High tide bursting the river banks
no scream as mud filled her mouth
The swamp was alive
Crabs crawled between her toes
Flood waters lapped up her body
The water, a murky, tepid brown.
Mud filled her eyes
engulfed by the muddy darkness
Gasping for breath
no scream
Swallowed by the mud she
returned to safety
whence she once had come

Discuss this piece in the abctales forum


Comments

skinner_jennifer | September 29, 2010 - 19:19

Gosh pia,
This is so expressive, it sounds like some horrible
nightmare, when finally she wakes in her bed safe.
Jenny.

Highhat | September 29, 2010 - 19:29

Yo she wakes up to safety- thanks for the comment Jenny- like the expressive part- thanks
;)pia

Kahdai | September 29, 2010 - 19:41

:O Ii thought it must be a nightmare too! or like an old story, glad its safe at the end ;) K

Highhat | September 29, 2010 - 19:51

yeah it's best to be safe because nightmares can easily happen even when you are awake ;) thanks for reading Kahdai
pia ;)

JoseHdz | September 29, 2010 - 19:54

lovely read. must say, I read this while listening to Jimi Hendrix's 'Red House'... great experience...

cheers

Highhat | September 29, 2010 - 19:58

Thank you very much for the kind comment Jose- nothing compared to your wonderful poetry -
;)pia

skinner_jennifer | September 29, 2010 - 20:04

Wow what a great idea to read while listening to
Jimi Hendrix's 'Red House.' I'll have to try that one.
Jenny.

skinner_jennifer | September 29, 2010 - 20:07

I had a strange experience, in my sleep I was running
really fast down a hill and running through peoples
houses, trying to get home, but I was lost. When I
awoke in the morning, my head was buzzing, I felt
like I had so much energy, it was really weird.
Jenny.

Highhat | September 29, 2010 - 20:22

Strange Jen- dreams or rather nightmares usually tend to drain one of energy. I suppose because you gathered energy by running down hill- not as demanding as up hill- oh nonsense- I'm very silly
;)pia

Highhat | September 29, 2010 - 20:26

Am not familiar with that particular track- thanks for the hint ;)
pia

MistakenMagic | September 29, 2010 - 21:13

Firstly - WOW! And secondly, this is a seriously wonderful piece - so gritty and dirty (in the muddy sense of the word!) A living nightmare - but an expertly crafted one :)

Magic xxx

Kahdai | September 29, 2010 - 21:14

its true! I crawl up mountains and fly downstairs in my sleep!

iDrew | September 29, 2010 - 21:35

Wot no crocodiles?

I think I really liked it - but I didn’t. You know what I mean. I did like it but there’s too many things with too many legs and teeth.

xDrew

the CLUELESS COLLECTIVE'S magazine of poetica Issue #6 -http://www.cluelesscollective.co.uk - OUT Oct 1st. With an Andrew Motion exposé, news of an amazing Auden discovery, and an exclusive interview with Charlotte De’Ath about …

insertponceyfre... | September 29, 2010 - 22:02

well I was terrified all the way through - this was really well done Pia- totally gripping

fatboy74 | September 29, 2010 - 22:34

Well done on the cherry - have you been reading M R James alone late at night? :-)

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:27

Magic- thank you for the comment- It's just as good as the cherry
;)Pia

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:36

"when you least expect it you're elected- you are the lucky one" I never expected a cherry on this one- but whoever does? Thanks guys and dolls. Fabulous.
;)Pia

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:39

Thank you Kahdai for reading
pia ;)

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:41

Thanks iDrew for commenting- love your magazine
pia ;)

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:45

Insert- I really appreciate your reading and commenting my pieces- yours is quality judgement along with the other talers of course.
Thank you
pia;)

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 06:51

Fatboy- thanks a lot for reading and your fine comment. I am a great admirer of your work so your comment means a lot to me.Nope- haven't been reading MR James late at night!!!
;)pia

skinner_jennifer | September 30, 2010 - 09:51

Congratulations on the cherries Pia, you wrote a brilliant
piece here, well deserved.
Jenny.

Highhat | September 30, 2010 - 10:14

Thanks a lot Jenny and thanks for reading- greatly appreciated
pia ;)

Silver Spun Sand | October 1, 2010 - 11:23

I've arrived at the party late...sorry;-)

A wonderful piece - well deserving of its cherry, pia.

Tina

Highhat | October 1, 2010 - 13:38

Thank You for reading and commenting Tina
;)pia

Prettyrose | October 5, 2010 - 17:50

Hi Pia :) Yes very Expressive like Jenny said and you obviously have a brilliant talent and express like, to some as it should be :) although I had to read it twice to understand where you were going with it, that's me not you lol.

So well done :)

Highhat | October 5, 2010 - 18:43

I may update it as you are not the only one who had difficulty in grasping the meaning ;) thanks for the kind comment prettyrose- yea a lovely name you have ;)
pia

well-wisher | October 26, 2010 - 21:51

I liked this poem although I didn't understand it but it grabbed my attention, artfully turned my stomach and made my skin crawl and I like poems that can do that.

Highhat | October 27, 2010 - 07:35

I think I was feeling like being a bit creepy well- wisher- thanks for reading- it was supposed to be a nightmare where she woke up eventually.
;)Pia

Prettyrose | October 27, 2010 - 12:52

Your welcome Pia :) and thank you for your kind words, not sure a bout the pretty bit lol some one once told me he he but smile I always try to do so incorporated the both :)

And you did achieve your goal Pia as nightmare and I always say follow the pen within and what you write is not a sin!!! again great work :))))

Highhat | October 27, 2010 - 14:02

Thanks for sticking with it Prettyrose- nice comment thanks
;)Pia