Gone with a Sigh–dVerse Open Link Night

 

Photo: BlueRidgeKitties.com

Near-winter dampness invades the room,

infects our space, lingers in the air like

twinning wisps of frigid breath and

smoke from your cigarette.

 

You cannot speak or won’t.

Perhaps you heard me. Maybe not.

Or did you seal your ears against the sound

of my newfound understanding?

 

By the ice-etched window, quiet still,

you stand, scratching petroglyphs

with your fingernail, eyes fixed on a quail

huddled in the branches of a juniper.

 

Remembering how I wept

when first I read those words,

(only a girl, I could not comprehend

an ending without joy) I sigh.

 

And though you do not say them now—

not my dear, nor brutal acclamation,

silence screams across the room. It’s true,

you do not give a damn.

 

But unlike Rhett, you stay—

a witness to hope’s dying whisper.

You do not stir the embers struggling

to give warmth. Our fireplace goes cold.

So happy to be back in the Pub with all my poet friends. Sorry to be so late in posting and visiting you. This is an old poem and it is fiction, thank God.

Good-By

It seemed to whisper,

Good-by,
good-by.

Everything that had been a part of her.
Everything bound up
in her deepest roots.

Good-by,
good-by.

Fear fell away, congealed.
Fear, frozen, oddly gentle,
like a baby rabbit in a trap.

Good-by,
good-by.

The air, thick with feathers,
floated softly down.
Suddenly stilled.

Good-by.
Good-by.

Photo: V. Slotto

This is an erasure poem, written as a response to Anna Montgomery’s prompt over at dVerse Form for All. You’ll enjoy learning all about this form and reading what other poets have created. I chose Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind opened to a page at random. The scene in play is that which occurs when the Union invades and sets fire to Tara. I first read this classic as a teen and again about twenty years ago.

The pub opens a 1500 EST…come on over.

Thank you, Anna.

Gone with a Sigh

Gone with a Sigh

Near-winter dampness invades the room,
infects our space, lingers in the air like
twinning wisps of frigid breath and
smoke from your cigarette.

You cannot speak or won’t.
Perhaps you heard me. Maybe not.
Or did you seal your ears against the sound
of my newfound understanding?

By the ice-etched window, quiet still,
you stand, scratching petroglyphs
with your fingernail, eyes fixed on a quail
huddled in the branches of a juniper.

Remembering how I wept
when first I read those words,
(only a girl, I could not comprehend
an ending without joy) I sigh.

And though you do not say them now—
not my dear, nor brutal acclamation,
silence screams across the room. It’s true,
you do not give a damn.

But unlike Rhett, you stay—
a witness to hope’s dying whisper.
You do not stir the embers struggling
to give warmth. Our fireplace goes cold.

Submitted to One Shot Wednesday: http://onestoppoetry.com/

One Shot Wednesday: Gone with a Sigh

Cover of Gone with the Wind

I was honored to have this poem featured on Jingle’s Poetry Potluck this week, so now I’m posting it on my blog to feature for One Shot Poetry. Hope you enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gone with a Sigh

Near-winter dampness invades the room,
infects our space, lingers in the air like
twinning wisps of frigid breath and
smoke from your cigarette.

You cannot speak or won’t.
Perhaps you heard me. Maybe not.
Or did you seal your ears against the sound
of my newfound understanding?

By the ice-etched window, quiet still,
you stand, scratching petroglyphs
with your fingernail, eyes fixed on a quail
huddled in the branches of a juniper.

Remembering how I wept
when first I read those words,
(only a girl, I could not comprehend
an ending without joy) I sigh.

And though you do not say them now—
not my dear, nor brutal acclamation,
silence screams across the room. It’s true,
you do not give a damn.

But unlike Rhett, you stay—
a witness to hope’s dying whisper.
You do not stir the embers struggling
to give warmth. Our fireplace goes cold.

Jingle’s Poetry Potluck: http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/

One Shot Poetry: http://oneshotpoetry.blogspot.com/