The Skull and the Girl

Her thin white legs are sweet.
She crouches down,
takes a small brush,
sweeps dirt off my partly exposed skull.
I am extinct, the way some pachyderms are
while others are not.
Ice fields turn to desert.
Wind-straws evolve into sun hats.
An archaeologist discovers.
I like her hands,
they cup and measure,
they feel the weight of dispersed things.
The flesh over her knees
gentles the earth. She spreads herself –
an eclipse of her.
She tugs my skull from the earth,
uncouples my emptiness.
An era passes an age.
I am a footprint in an Alzheimer’s ward,
yet I recall her fingers
how once they brought sight to my eye-sockets,
how she placed me under the green-vine
of her life, cared for my hollowness,
planted the scent of her youth in it.
Questions like:
who-what-where,
and how
do not arise.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019


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

Date: 9/22/2019 2:28:00 PM
Somehow this poem reminded of "Dark matter." Hollowness, emptiness is like sometimes like the darkest black hole, nothing to give, nothing to gain. Like a both way dilemma. In this situation, we as muslim rely on our supernatural power and say "In sha Allah (God willing). Do not judge with a prejudiced mind. Just delete it if you find it otherwise.
Login to Reply
Ashford Avatar
Eric Ashford
Date: 9/22/2019 2:33:00 PM
Well gosh Tamanna, that is certainly one way to look at it. It is set in a timeless zone between life and life, so you might have a point here. Thanks.
Date: 9/22/2019 11:11:00 AM
Taken by surprise, happily so! An unusual angle poetically described. Almost has a an art house movie quality, in the way you have "directed" the imagery. Intriguing poem , Eric- so glad I found it today! :-)
Login to Reply
Ashford Avatar
Eric Ashford
Date: 9/22/2019 12:26:00 PM
Thank you Aqua, it's 'off the wall' but seems to strike a chord with some readers. I am glad I found your poetry also. Obliged to you.
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter