Pips


from the ABC set Poems of the Middle

My mother's forgotten her lines
only words
intermittent as spitten pips
leave her

It is another sign
of leave-taking
her eyes
give nothing away
and fail to set
the sentence straight

I know
If I held her hand
I might squeeze
a ghost, the name of the day
into the air

But on the thinness
of her skin
hangs my excuse
to let the silence fall.

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Comments

Sooz006 | February 16, 2008 - 13:21

Oh this one had *got* to be cherried. It's fantastic. 10/10

Ewan | February 16, 2008 - 14:04

'intermittent as spitten pips'

Consider the case rested.

lwilkinson | February 18, 2008 - 17:59

Beautiful, just beautiful.

tcook | February 18, 2008 - 18:13

I agree - this is a cracker. I especially like the last verse.

chelseyflood | February 20, 2008 - 11:13

Excellent poem.

Ssor | March 2, 2008 - 22:45

fail to set
the sentence straight

the name of the day
into the air

Nothing but envy for the superb metaphorical extension in these lines.