Expressed Vessel

Corrugated box with floppy wings 
howling from a gape--that
mournful dog.

My duty
manifests threads
unraveled by revelation

in Svetlana's isolated face laminated
on cardboard, pleading with me to
share a phantom dance as

her tension wanders in tepid
waters; distance compels skating
ambition until scandalous betrayal
spits brutal retribution, jealous
rage and sharpened jabs to expel

vicious silence.

He debates the
scoundrel in the mirror, eyes
defiant: refuse to surrender,

shred the doll and bundle
those discarded husks,
conceal the torment--
shed the flesh
down the
drain

to Truman Reservoir.

Daddy guards your journey
never vanquished,
yet balking,

Svetlana’s skull in
the trunk--
a boulder
too great to throw.

"Mommy will be okay,"
pins down his mantra.

Mercy secures wings
with a blabbering
tape gun.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Williams Avatar
April 22, 2009 at 6:43 AM
Yes, intense, pulling... the flow again... succinct... all the way to the ending.... kudos John
Guzzi Avatar
April 20, 2009 at 6:24 AM
very very intense, I pray.."Mommy will be ok." Light & Love
Joe Avatar
April 19, 2009 at 8:45 AM
There is a strong feeling of Appollinaire in this. The imagery certainly does conjour that. But even more the works of the Soviet 'absudists', such as Danil Kahms. You seem to have taken a story and pared it down to the bare bones until it doesn't make sense and yet there is a sense to it. This is a powerful piece of poetry.
Moreno Avatar
April 18, 2009 at 7:15 PM
The imagery is impressive, nice word use and great as always...Raul
Loveless Avatar
April 18, 2009 at 10:55 AM
Another great one!
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