Scarlet Skies and Singed Grass

A roguish thought occurs every now and then; 
its words 
suffused between scarlet skies and 
singed grass, 
for it is both a wanderer in the woods  
of subconscious  
and a whisper we choose to ignore—
ignore until ignored it can be no more.  

Poets love to people watch; 
flirt with the idea of them in their hemisphere, 
with crumpets and cheese on the sidewalk, 
breathing slowly, breathing deliberately, 
romancing the void that exists—
this plug and play is more than meets the eye, 
is a black swan, 
in a pond full of common and white.

Swept into an otherworldly ether, I indulge 
the senses, 
write poems about a ribcage of roses 
in conflict with one filled with thorns. 
Fuck, it’s easier said than done, 
when the fog clears and reveals a fact we wish  
had remained hidden— excuse my French. 
The only question is, do we accept or deny? 

I adore the way people read me;  
knowing I laugh at the wind and tease the 
waves,
in a realm of what ifs and nots I am the sonnet  

that bites, I am Spring mud and crocus, 
I won’t lie, I like being a distraction. 
Their eyes contain a language I wish to learn, 
as though a firefly one chases in the dark; 
this everyday compulsion to tell others  
you are justified is like a mess under perfection. 
Don’t let it happen. 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credits: Kal Gajoum Painting, Pinterest

“I was in love with everything, I wanted to look with love at the angry people
so that
their eyes would be forced to respond; and I wanted to bring gifts to
the envious and
tell them that I am worthless.” — Egon Schiele 🌷

Posted for Poetics: Playtime @dVerse Poets Pub

 

28 thoughts on “Scarlet Skies and Singed Grass

  1. Björn says:

    I like the thought of what poets can do, observing and penning their thought… and we may smile, but it’s a smile that bites.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Absolutely! Thank you so much, Bjorn 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  2. msjadeli says:

    One of your best poems ever, Sanaa. I feel your power in it.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Lisa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it! 💄❤️

      (and thank you for the glorious prompt) 🥂

  3. paeansunplugged says:

    Love the playfulness you infused in this, Sanaa! ❤️

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Punam 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  4. Angela says:

    Fantastic writing Sanaa so taken with the line ‘poems about a ribcage of roses’ well done <3

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Angela 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  5. Sunra Rainz says:

    A beautiful roguish poem! I love the final stanza especially and I adore the accompanying artwork! <3

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awww gosh! Thank you so much, Sunra 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  6. Kerfe says:

    “the sonnet that bites”–wonderful!

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kerfe 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  7. Christine says:

    I like the line about liking to be a distraction. Its funny because you are spot on about writers but there are those who like to distract and then there are others who like to fade into the background and just continue to observe.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Christine 😀 so glad the poem and its imagery appealed to you 💄❤️

  8. “for it is both a wanderer in the woods
    of subconscious
    and a whisper we choose to ignore—“

    “ Their eyes contain a language I wish to learn,
    as though a firefly one chases in the dark;”

    Love these parts.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Melissa 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

  9. rog leach says:

    people watching is surely one of my fav things. especially over coffee and cake alfresco. living in my world of what ifs.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Roger 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

  10. Brendan says:

    This play is pure poetry – barely referential, indulgent, whimsical, light-headed and free with teeth bared. A watercolor cityscape of the heart.

    1. Sanaa says:

      Awwww gosh! Thank you so much, Brendan 😀 so glad you liked it 💄❤️

  11. kittysverses says:

    So many beautiful and thought provoking lines, Sanaa. 🙂

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Kitty 😀 so good to see you 💄❤️

  12. Gillena Cox says:

    “Poets love to people watch;
    flirt with the idea of them in their hemisphere, ”

    Indeed.

    Thanks for dropping by my blog

    Much💜love

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Gillena 😀 so glad the poem resonated with you 💄❤️

      Much love back 🥂💕

  13. A most interesting poem. I love the playing with ideas of who people are and what might be if you were in their world.
    I thought this line was great…
    …romancing the void that exists—

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Dwight 😀 so glad the poem and its imagery appealed to you 💄❤️

  14. Oh I’m saving this one, I think this might be one of the best poems about the art of poetry ever written! 💯💘🌷

    1. Sanaa says:

      Thank you so much, Mrityunjay 😀 so glad you enjoyed it 💄❤️

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