“A nightmare is mere fodder for poetry.” ~ Kerry O’Connor
Last year’s screams are being swallowed by the shrieking
storm that’s the year to come. My skeleton grins in the rain, letting nature
rip old pains, readying the soul for the fresh flesh frock that twists broken pieces
whole.
Yes, there’ll be more pain.
But don’t despair (or
attempt to flee) when life cracks her relentless whip. To run, a body has to
show its back. To bear agony (and
persist), a soul must bare her teeth.
for the Imaginary Garden’s “Play It Again! with Real Toads”, where our beloved Kerry lists some of our favorite
prompts and invites us to “PLAY IT AGAIN!
and AGAIN! and AGAIN!” I chose Izy’s
challenge, “Chew through your own chains”. She asked us to “create a list of
three words or phrases specific to the worst job [we] ever had and craft a poem
having nothing to do with work.” My words are “skeleton, pieces, despair”.
This poem is alive with grit, fire and a passion for living, Magaly dearest!❤️ Especially love; "a soul must bare her teeth." Definitely so!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sanaa. May we always keep our teeth sharp for biting (and more importantly, smiling).
DeleteMagaly this has me worried. Love you, love you, love.
ReplyDeleteReally? And here I was aiming for a poem that reminds us that when life exposes our bones, we might as well embrace our grinning skull and face the storm head on (or face on *cough*). Perspective is a tricky thing, isn't it?
Delete"fresh flesh frock" -- try saying THAT three times quickly! I love the illustration you chose too. Very evocative.
ReplyDeleteOh, but I totally did. And at least one out three times, I ended up saying f**ck.
DeleteWOW! I love the grinning skull, the fresh flesh frock (brilliant), and the bared teeth, showing your relentless grit in the face of challenges. I am thinking 2020 will be a much kinder year to you than 2019 was. I hope so, anyway.
ReplyDeleteMy hope joins yours for a much kinder 2020 for us all, Sherry!
DeleteGod, I feel this. I feel it for you. I feel it for my daughter. You can't run without showing your back and what you run toward sees the grit of your teeth. I am so thankful we met among toads.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am grateful we swam (and will continue to swim) together, Susie.
DeleteThis poem is emblematic of life, for me, Magaly. And also a signature piece from your pen, the way you constantly inspire us all 'To bear agony (and persist)'
ReplyDeleteFor you and for me, too, my dear Kerry.
DeleteI do think that better words come from darkness (and the resistance)... I hope though that pain as you describe will lessen in the year to come.
ReplyDeleteI join my hope to yours!
DeleteAnd yes, there is something extra powerful about ink bled from dark.
Great to revisit again.
DeleteRAWR!
ReplyDeleteLet's show that new year as many teeth as we can with our biggest grin.
Teeth and metal!
DeleteIt is the year of the metal rat. *raises the horns*
DeleteReally enjoyed reading this battle cry of a poem again.
Lady, this is just what I needed!
ReplyDeleteYay! for getting what we need.
DeleteNow I am wondering what job you've had that involved skeletons. ;_) So good to read your fine, gallant words, dear Magaly. Forgive me for being so absent--I have been dealing with the cold undertow of loss--but poetry is reviving for me, and my teeth are peeping out around the edges. Thanks for this song of fierceness and hope.
ReplyDeleteYou never need to apologize to me, my dear J. Not ever. May the song (and the bit of raging) soothe.
DeleteI love the illustration and I love your words!!! Big Hugs! Here's to a kicking ass 2020!! Love you!
ReplyDeletePatricia Ariel's work is magnificent.
DeleteI've been away for a while, and oh how I've missed your words. Powerful.
ReplyDeleteWelcome back!
DeleteThis is so beautifully, wonderfully YOU! Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen. And happy New Year to you!
DeleteYes, that illustration is perfect for your frightful/powerful words ... and so is its title.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary.
DeleteBrutal and awesome!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Samyuktha.
DeleteComing back and re-reading – 'gallant' and 'fierceness', words hedgewitch used about this, do indeed apply. I would sum it all up as Courage (yes, with capital-C).
ReplyDeleteThank you for the re-read, Rosemary. This is a big-C I can dance with (and happily).
DeleteUnlike the other big-C. No one wants to dance with that bastard, lol!
Deleteto run a body has to show its back... love that!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteOh, bare those teeth into your beautiful grin, Magaly, and flourish in the rain. I like the idea of the ‘fresh flesh frock’ – excellent alliteration and you can’t go wrong with a magical list of three’.
ReplyDelete3 is a wonderful number, isn't it? Wild grins.
DeleteA wonderful sense of triumph over adversity prevails
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jae Rose.
DeleteContinue to grit your teeth dear Magaly - your strength is admirable and wonderfully mirrored in your fine words.
ReplyDeleteMuch love
Anna :o]
Thank you so much, Anna. There shall be more teeth gritting! 😁
DeleteAnd only a brave soul like you bear such a pain.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vandana.
DeleteWow. There is a ferociousness and a passion for living here Magaly!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda.
DeleteScreams being swallowed by shrieks. I was overcome by the feeling of birth, perhaps a mother's wails being swallowed by a baby's cries? (In metaphor anyway as one year gives way to another) The pain is a burden for the body to bear, almost breaking it open, but the pain is necessary for the newness to come.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Some things just hurt and change us forever. We can choose to let the pain break us, or build armor out of the experience.
DeleteBared teeth: I'd run from them too!
ReplyDeleteOne can hope pain and despair share feel the same way about bared teeth!
DeleteThis is truth. "To bear agony (and persist), a soul must bare her teeth." The essence of writing wrapped up in a single line. Thank you, Magaly.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joel. And I so agree.
DeleteBrava redux ......
ReplyDeleteThank you, x 2 + 1, ma'am.
DeletePretty sure this poem will continue to chew on me.
ReplyDeleteI hope the nibbling is gentle.
DeleteWow! what clever imagery for face the music and dance
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes for 2020 Magaly
Much❤🌷❤love
Thank you, Gillena. So glad you think so. A wonderful 2020 to you, too.
DeleteI love how raw and true this is. It is true about writing, but also about life.
ReplyDeleteWriting and living love walking hand in hand, I think.
DeleteThis speaks to me resilience, hope and the only way out is through! You always inspire me Magaly! 🤩
ReplyDelete"the only way out is through!" So, we shall push. And move ahead.
DeleteYour use of the terms you choose is so fresh--I love that--and here is hoping for a better 2020.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Audrey, for the words and the hopes!
DeleteMay 2020 be better for you, too.
Whew! "There's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" L. Cohen
ReplyDeleteI've always loved those words, ZQ. Thank you for sharing them.
DeleteI love this, start to finish, Magaly! Twisting broken pieces whole and baring teeth. Yes, this is how we survive nightmares and build dreams.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is!
DeleteMagaly, you are ONE TOUGH KID. I love the allegory work you used, I could be with every hurt but of course not to the extent, as we often say, "feel them with you."
ReplyDeleteThank you Magaly, I appreciate those times you have come to leave comments even though I might not respond. My Sabbatical is over this week, I'd better improve. I will report on my leave, just have to make it fit into here.
..
Thank you, Jim. I figured you were enjoying your sabbatical, and that's a very good excuse to skip commenting here and there. It would be lovely to read about your leave. Hope that there are pictures, too!
DeleteWhen we are in a fight the most important thing is determination and confidence so that anything is possible if you really want come out on top.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, dear Robin.
DeleteScreams being swallowed by shreiks... how those words tear at my heart
ReplyDelete(💔)
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