Notes About The Poem
Written 29th July, 2026 for Skeltons Poetry Contest sponsored by Seth Pina (N/A)
What the Bones Say
Curator:
Pit cut into slope.
Many shallow sites.
No coffin stain; quick burial.
Fill consistent with disturbed soil and stone.
Skeleton:
I carried in my life a spear,
I died right here upon this rise.
No coffin came, no time for fear,
just stone and soil to close my eyes.
Curator:
Body laid on left side.
Orientation east;
possible ritual significance.
Adult male. Robust skeletal build.
Skeleton:
Some careful, unknown gentle hand
once laid my left side to the earth.
They faced me east, so I might stand,
a robust man of solid girth.
Curator:
Dentition worn flat.
Enamel loss.
Grain diet likely.
No luxury markers.
Skeleton:
The field gave grain, the hearth gave fire,
I ground the wheat with stone on clay.
No meat, no salt, no rare desire.
just bread to eat each day.
Curator:
Ribs compressed.
Minor displacement.
Consistent with settling or trauma.
Skeleton:
Soil settled slow upon my chest,
and left my ribs a shifting weight.
I could not fight, I could not rest,
as time bore down and would not wait.
Curator:
Skull fractured at temple.
Blunt force trauma.
No penetrating wound.
Fall after impact is possible.
Skeleton:
The stone, the steel, the sudden night.
I saw the flash; I felt the blow.
It dealt me death in broken light.
I lost the fight a long time ago.
Curator:
No grave goods.
Secondary disturbance likely.
Burial appears reopened.
Skeleton:
Again there came a hand and spade,
and took what lay upon my skin.
And what they took, they meant to trade,
My body now bones so thin.
Curator:
Adult male; warrior-associated.
Probable cause of death.
Context associated with conflict.
Skeleton:
Do not name me by wound alone,
nor by the silence of this ground.
I was flesh before I was bone,
and once my voice was clear and sound.
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
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a
Premium Membership.
