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.
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.