Black Balloon

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,"
My mind recites in garbled tongue.
The light spreads like an oil spill,
Brighter, hotter than the sun.
Hear it crackle, watch it spark,
See each colour lick the floor, 
A dizzy war of light and dark
As feral smoke fills every pore.
 
Shallow breath, depleted lungs,  
A sea of black designed to drown. 
Clinging to my faintest thoughts 
Like slinky silk or heavy shroud.
And as I watch it float away, 
This lethal, perverse black balloon.
I pray that it won't veer off course, 
That it won't spread or burst too soon.
 
A devil lounges on my chest 
To play this grim and dangerous game. 
The air he hoards like silver coins  
Invigorates the growing flames. 
Time begins to melt and ooze,
Acrid wax within my veins.
Feel them trickle, watch them blur,
Tears that drip like acid rain.
 
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,"
My mind recites in peaceful tone. 
The light is soft, the heat is warm
As pain leaks slowly from my bones.  
And when the lasting ash has cooled,
When piercing dread no longer looms, 
I'll love and hate and crave that light
From this lonely black cocoon.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012


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Date: 3/28/2013 11:56:00 AM
Belated congratulations on this one, Heather. The originality of many of your descriptions is really, really awesome. 'Feral smoke'. You feel past what is already good and take it to great, if that makes any sense. ~Jeremy
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Date: 3/23/2013 10:32:00 AM
Magnificent poem! A well deserved first place for you. Congrats. -- Sean
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Date: 3/22/2013 4:17:00 PM
Heather, A FINE WINNING POEM.... :-) , Congratulations in ANNE'S "any poem goes" contest. Take care~ Linda
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Date: 3/22/2013 11:03:00 AM
Beautiful, perfect, I loved it! Jen
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Date: 3/22/2013 6:25:00 AM
I love the way this poem was written...congrats on the win!
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Date: 3/22/2013 6:05:00 AM
Don't think I've seen this one before...It's great...and top spot again!
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Date: 3/22/2013 1:39:00 AM
fantastic write friend Heather. Big Congratulations on your win!! cheers!!! Maria
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Date: 3/21/2013 10:05:00 PM
A wonderful poem, Heather. Congratulations! Jack
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Date: 3/21/2013 8:23:00 PM
This had a sad tune. congratulations on your win. Love, Joyce
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Date: 3/21/2013 6:44:00 PM
WOWOWOW, look at you on top of the heap. Awesome!! Congrats, my friend.
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Date: 3/21/2013 5:46:00 PM
Congratulations on a great win and poem Heather.
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Date: 11/9/2012 12:32:00 AM
Heather, this made me think of that pink contest for breast cancer. except that you didn't mention pink. I mean, the images just made me think of something very bleak. You are very imaginative!
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Date: 10/28/2012 5:17:00 AM
Very nice poem... good rhyming... nice imagery... Terry
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Date: 9/29/2012 11:09:00 AM
Loved it Heather! Hugs and happy thoughts, Jack
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Date: 8/11/2012 1:20:00 PM
great write love the journey,keep em coming
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Date: 8/11/2012 8:16:00 AM
Interesting lines penned using an old nursey rhyme/song line..Sara
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Date: 8/9/2012 1:25:00 PM
Heather, this is luvly and such wonderful piece. I realy enjoyed reading it. Cheers.
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Ober Avatar
Heather Ober
Date: 8/9/2012 3:28:00 PM
Thank you so much :)
Date: 8/9/2012 9:59:00 AM
Heather, this is a very good poem - a sensitive poem about life on earth, well done. - oxox love // Anne-Lise :)
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Ober Avatar
Heather Ober
Date: 8/9/2012 3:27:00 PM
Thank you, Anne Lise!
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