Excavation

I press my hands into the ruins of you,
fingertips cut in the quiet rot of ancient wounds
that have never quite been touched.
Beneath splintered ribs, 
your earth is sulfurous in suffering—
your volcanic pulse muffled under sediment,
heart-rages arrested in amber.

I carve through your marrow-deep dusks,
knuckles bloodied on the bedrock of guilt,
digging past rusted veins and forgotten altars,
until my hands unearth something 
promethean and glinting—
not relic, not wreckage—
but soft golds of you, 
burning like a mantra
like a last prayer.


3.8.24
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Beaufort Avatar
March 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Hi Laura, this has meaning on many levels. It’s a lot of work to look at memories in detail. I do like how you find gold…since we can make peace with our past and let it work to build our happiness fortune. Smiles! It’s better than letting it just sit there unexamined.
Breidenthal Avatar
March 16, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I always appreciate your thoughts and wisdom my friend… you are quite the examiner yourself and that’s what I’ve always loved about you… smiles <3 Laura
Bordner Avatar
March 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"Your volcanic pulse muffled under sediment, heart rages arrested in amber..." Exquisite sensuality Poetess. You work such wonders with the Natural Elements as your poetic touchstones.The physicality, rough, gothic, unbridled pursuit of raw truth. This is very fresh poetry. A FAV!! J.A.B.
Breidenthal Avatar
March 16, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The pursuit of raw truth indeed is the reason for the excavation Justin—I adore you and your thoughts! <3 Laura
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace