crone
.
i hear her whispers in the dark
as i lie staring at the moon
hanging in the center of my window
telling me stories i wish
i had no need to know
the apples she offers
are not spiked with poison
only withered dreams
and the juice of death
running down
through bony fingers
.
i catch all the drips
as they fall from her wrist
with a tongue
i know cannot save me
yet there is no fear
in this bracelet of decency
no menace in her offer
to share
she comes as hollowed out friend
in a cloak i choose
to wear
but makes no move
to hang it
on the shudder of my shoulders
.
she is
happy to wait
the empty space
of ticking seconds
barren and fruitful
the silence of scream
to the motherless child
she is
answer and question
one
in the lace
of each veiled eye
.
.
.
.
.
Fifty days from now, I turn fifty.
And while I thought I would be dreading this birthday,
I find myself looking forward to it.
On that day, November 27th, I want to host a
“celebrate life” blog-link party here. More details to follow,
but I would love to have you join me!
Linking up today with the fabulous dVerse poets for Open Link Night, join us!
October 9th, 2012 at 9:31 am
you are answer and question and muse and poet and oh so much more…50 more at least!
October 9th, 2012 at 9:36 am
she comes as hollowed out friend
in a cloak i choose
to wear….dang….the answer and the question, willing to wait for us…made me think too of the crone from snow white….intense piece…introspective as well…
October 9th, 2012 at 9:47 am
You spin an atmosphere from wisdom, foreshadowing, and acceptance that casts an engulfing and palpable ether. A necessary, shining, and well considered look into the foundations. Wow, I am leaving in awe and wonder, your poetry expands my humanity.
October 9th, 2012 at 10:36 am
“stories i wish i had no need to know . . .”
this is goosebumpy good. beyond goosebumps – goosebumps squared. “she is happy to wait”. oh my oh my oh my.
October 9th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
only withered dreams
and the juice of death
running down
through bony fingers..
wow intense piece, Kelly
October 9th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
The crone of age and winter is a familiar trope, yet you bring a sharp and individual perspective on her–I’ve written of her, the cailleach, many times, yet like everything she embodies, there is always more–your view presents both the terror and the natural comfort of inevitable balance she carries. My favorites here are the apple metaphor, and the stanza that begins
‘…she comes as hollowed out friend
in a cloak i choose
to wear…’
October 9th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Ah, she visits me at times, too. Beautiful and wistful.
“the apples she offers
are not spiked with poison
only withered dreams
and the juice of death
running down
through bony fingers”
October 9th, 2012 at 1:19 pm
dreamy and disconcerting at the same time – Thank you!
October 9th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Nice reflections here. No menace indeed… Just the presence of a patient friend. Happy fiftieth upcoming.
October 9th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Oh, this is good.
“she is
answer and question
one
in the lace
of each veiled eye”
Sometimes I think that answers and questions are really mysteriously woven together so much so that one cannot separate one from another.
Happy upcoming 50th. The 50’s are a wonderful decade!
October 9th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
A crone…..could this be inspired by the onset of winter? Or is it something more, something more reflective maybe, something more personal, maybe questions asked – and to me it says….’have I/am I living life the way I want to live it’….great poem…brooding…..loving your words as always
October 9th, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Hauntingly brilliant.
October 9th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
This is such a strong piece. The imagery is powerful in all the best of ways.
“the apples she offers
are not spiked with poison
only withered dreams”
This is just one of my favorite parts. And your idea about celebrating life is brilliant 🙂
October 9th, 2012 at 5:23 pm
A great write, the flow really took flight. And the big 5 0, my mother just turned that two days ago, so old haha
October 9th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
The wonderful duality in this tangibly explored. There is sorrow and celebration woven in the lines, with the implied threads of lineage to all that connects woman to the women before and to the shuddering women yet to come. Complex piece beautifully wrapped in a cloaked metaphor.
October 9th, 2012 at 6:28 pm
The cloak and the shudder of shoulders is pretty great. The whole poem is pretty compelling. Your note though is extremely troubling. Fifty is not so bad! I admit that forty is better, but I do hope the crone has to wait quite a bit longer than this upcoming birthday. k.
October 9th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
I know, I hadn’t intended for this to come out so dark… but sometimes, that is just what happens. In truth, I am really looking forward to fifty. I think the darkness is coming from watching someone I love, who is much older, inching closer to death. It has been on my mind a lot lately.
October 9th, 2012 at 6:45 pm
wonderful use of the picture… gentle words help to paint the picture… good job
October 9th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
This is creepy and delicious. The specter of a big number looms and threatens, but she’ll turn out to be a cupcake. Trust me; I know. I think you’re figuring that out too as she gets closer.
October 9th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
This poem is a beauty! That first stanza sets the reader up for an outcome other than anticipated. A beautiful write. Bravo! Bravo!
October 9th, 2012 at 8:40 pm
My fav lines:
she is
answer and question
one
in the lace
of each veiled eye
Congrats on your upcoming special day ~ The best years are still to come, believe me ~ Smiles ~
October 9th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
At first glance this looked to me like a Halloween poem. But I noticed the lines
stories i wish
i had no need to know
and think it’s more serious than that holiday usually is in popular culture. Halloween is probably my favorite holiday because of its potential to teach young people about painful truths: disease, decay, evil and death.
I’m glad you want to celebrate your 50 years. You should. That’s a long time to make it on this earth (I’m 51). I think it’s a shame when people want to hide their age.
October 9th, 2012 at 9:31 pm
Oh my, this is exquisite. These are my favorite parts:
“i catch all the drips
as they fall from her wrist
with a tongue
i know cannot save me”
“she is
answer and question
one
in the lace
of each veiled eye”
October 9th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
She sounds like someone I wouldn’t mind knowing 🙂
She seems odd (ish), scary, yet isn’t at all.
Lovely poetry.
October 9th, 2012 at 9:37 pm
P.S The birthday bash sounds great… 50 is kinda the age where you (hopefully) know by then that you are happy that you’ve learned so much about life and yet… there’s always more 😉
October 9th, 2012 at 10:13 pm
A harbinger of death, or just an unpleasant reminder of one’s mortality? Well written, I liked the darkness of this!
BTW, saw your 50/50 note. I always say you’re as old as you feel. Age is just a number, you are not defined by it unless you let yourself be! Celebrate yourself!!
October 9th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Oh wow – this really appealed to my darker side
and you totally nailed it to the wall with the final few lines . . . The creeping creeper catching breath in eerie ways, for sure.
October 10th, 2012 at 1:40 am
oh heck…made me shiver….not spiked with poison
only withered dreams
and the juice of death…sometimes those withered dreams are worse than poison…right…?
October 10th, 2012 at 5:26 am
@ T.O.M. :
I see your sig, now, at the bottom of the photo — very nice. Your face and the leafless tree.
After your hint (thank you), I looked up “crone” — not a word I have ever used. Wow that was rich. I learned about Graves “White Goddess”.
I was stumped by the phrase, “bracelet of decency” — could you give a hint?
The images were rich — a play between full and empty.
Thanks
October 10th, 2012 at 11:33 am
Thanks, Sabio…. bracelet of decency… I was trying to convey that while I know what the crone brings to me (age and eventually death) that she really means me no harm, that what I thought was something to fear is really something to wear proudly…
October 10th, 2012 at 6:05 am
the photograph and the words weaved such a chilly atmosphere…you do it so well…each time…
hey…i’d love to join up…for your birthday party….!
October 10th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
So glad you’re looking forward to fifty. Take it from a living crone, it’s a great age. And every year from then, just becomes even more exciting, and freedom grows. Look forward to your on-line party.
October 10th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
I so love this image! So intriguing! You are so going to love your 50’s! You are already off to a great start by embracing it! And yes, I’d love to join the party!!
October 10th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
shudder of shoulder…made me feel shivery too…haunting write thanks.
October 10th, 2012 at 9:02 pm
We’ll never grow “old “, only “older”
October 11th, 2012 at 10:09 am
Beautiful haunting composition.
I never fear tomorrow – for it never comes…
Anna :o]
October 13th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Amen, Anna