This flesh is mine, it has bled, and shed
remnants of lies
saccharine– under a sky
surrounded by convalescing breath,
the world I see before me is made of shadows
with teeth,
as my heart attempts to piece together what stones
have buried– the tree bark howling out the tales
you have told.
I walk down a trialed path while insides burn,
as roses black
break out from a blinding daze– with Jupiter in a bottle
and eternity of stars raging in my soul.
Photo credits: Thomas Saliot, Pinterest
Poem inspired by “The Handflower,” by Kerry O’Connor and “Stones,” by Bruce Springsteen ❤️
Posted for ‘Music With Marian’ @ Real Toads
also posted on Pantry of Poetry and Prose @ Poets United
“the world I see before me is made of shadows with teeth” That is rich imagery. Your poem spills the deep emotion of pain into our palms and mixes with our own.
Thank you so much, Susie 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 🔥❤️
Shadows with teeth….and the tree bark howling out the tales you have told……fantastic…….as are the eternity of stars raging in your soul. Strong and wonderful images.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it 🔥❤️
Experiences in life and with love often make us hurt as never before. The first you accept the other you never forget. How sad this piece is Sanaa, luckily I am old enough to be able to look back on those early years with acceptance rather than sadness. Curiously the first girl that broke my heart contacted me after both our partners died just to be great friends.
Thank you so much, Robin 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you 🔥❤️
This poem leaves me feeling scared and depressed… sounds like she’s better off being alone. I think women need to learn that “romance” can wait. Let go, be free, love yourself and move on. Who needs all this pain? Right?
Absolutely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Margaret 🔥❤️
Ahhh… really nice, Sanaa. I love the gentle almost-rhymes in this, and “trialed path” is so weighty. May we not have to walk that path for too long. xo
Thank you so much, Marian 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 🔥❤️
(and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🌹
Love the image you share and how it is the urban counterpart to Western landscape. A lovely write!
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it 🔥❤️
Oh the path that many of us follow… wonder if we every will know what we may find at its end.
I think the shadows with teeth sounds a lot like what I have seen
Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 🔥❤️
Jupiter in a bottle is still my favourite line!
Thank you so much, Kerry 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 🔥❤️
Yes, like Kerry I love ‘Jupiter in a bottle’ … and also the strong and beautiful images others have quoted. And I always love your long, complex titles – which, as a general rule, are not supposed to work well for poetry, but in your hands are always wondrous.
Awwww gosh! 🔥❤️ Thank you so much, Rosemary 😀 so glad you liked it! 🔥❤️
This is my latest favorite by you, my dearest Sanaa. The images are so alive, bursting with emotions, and rich with truth. Those “shadows / with teeth” sure can bite.
I love what you did with Kerry’s words.
Yayyyyy! 🔥❤️ Thank you so much, Magaly 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you! 🔥❤️
Shadows are indeed more grim than reality… nice imagery.
Thank you so much, Rajani 😀 so good to see you! 🔥❤️
“Shadows with teeth” that is super rich imagery
Happy Sunday
Much🎅love
Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! 🔥❤️
Shadows with teeth and an eternity of stars…Marvelous!
Thank you so much, Ron 😀 so glad you liked it 🔥❤️
Gorgeous and heart-aching imagery here Sanaa. The heart may be broken, but those raging stars indicate that there is still some spirit and fight left, and that may be all that’s needed to start the healing.
Thank you so much, Rommy 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 🔥❤️
I LOVE “clouds with teeth”…AND “Jupiter in a bottler”…AND “stars raging in my soul!” Whew, I have to catch my breath now. Wonderful poem, Sanaa. 🙂
Thank you so much, H. Hennenburg 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! 🔥❤️
I love the “tree bark howling the stories you have told.”
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it! 🔥❤️
This…wow. What a powerful speaker and those roses…love this!!
Thank you so much, Chrissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 🔥❤️
pure…
🔥❤️🔥❤️
Even when it’s dark it sounds sensual! I’m thinking about Jupiter in a bottle.
Thank you so much, Colleen 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 🔥❤️