May the Ink Remain
I’ve wrapped myself up in the silken tapestries
I pulled from the breath of her dreams-
hoping the flow of my wounds won’t sour her memory of their beauty.
I’ve driven nails into the floor, just in front of my doorway;
He’ll trip before he reaches me.
All I need is a little time.
If I have to do it.
I’ll unhinge what I’ve been crossing swords with in-between
the thrumming of his quaking 6-string.
Playing the same, unforgiving song- over and over.
Just to watch me twinge.
Becoming the vibration.
If I have to let it loose to conquer the shadows cast by lucidity-
May the rain wash the blood from my letters,
and the ink remain.
I want her to know that I never meant to let him get between us.
That I stared him down
in the mirror, every morning.
Before kissing her forehead and burying his
curses in the laundry before leaving-
trying to become whole.
Hoping she could find a way to devour what I was destined to become.
Because I was too weak to watch myself turn into the embers he shoveled into my throat when I tried to explain why I thought that no matter how much I loved her.
Having a child, was a bad idea.
I didn’t want to pass this on.
I can’t allow it to continue.
So, I stay awake at night.
Waiting.
For the trip.
So I can break the mirror.
And let the rainfall.
Become the embers.
And imagine it's her embrace;
A deluge softening the fire and
letting me slip comfortably into
the silence that was never meant
to be between her, and I.
-James Kelley 2017
Copyright © James Kelley | Year Posted 2018
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