brittle stained jagged fingernails
scratch against the splint hairs
of a cold weathered wooden elbow
an impatient clock had sapped
a once supple leather coat
now requiring constant mending
as homeless unraveling posed an inevitable ending
torn pockets spilled over
with a plethora of dead letters
hope had long ago delivered
its final walking papers
without care of return receipt
handmade trees with news of unease
spun unmercifully
into the arms of a brisk fall breeze
birds began their escape
into the mouth of another sun
a slow rise from a patinaed throne
on a benched park seat
a myopic vision of how cracks
are formed on overused and forgotten streets
she walks alone
to nowhere
a decayed ballerina
the place she is seen as most complete
DECAYING.
ROTTING.
MY HEART CORRODES IN DUST
OUR LOVE ONCE BRIGHT AND SHINY.
NOW HAS TURNED TO RUST.
YOU USED TO TREAT ME DELICIATE.
I WAS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
SO CAREFUL NOT TO DAMAGE ME.
I MEANT SO MUCH TO YOU.
BUT NOW IT SEEMS YOU'VE TIRED OF ME.
BORED WITH YOUR WORN, USED TOY.
FOUND SOMETHING NEW TO PLAY WITH.
I NO LONGER BRING YOU JOY.
SO NOW I LAY ABANDONED.
LIKE AN OLD BIKE IN THE RAIN.
TOSSED CARELESSLY AGAINST A CRIPPLED FENCE.
NEVER USED AGAIN.
I TRULY WISH YOU UNDERSTOOD
THE TOLL YOU TOOK ON ME.
ALL WEATHERED AND PATINAED.
WHILE YOU'RE HAPPY BEING FREE.
YOU SEE MY MIND JUST CANNOT COMPHREND .
HOW YOU LEFT ME HERE TO ROT
LIKE A OLD BEAT UP WATERING CAN
A DENTED CAR LEFT IN A LOT.
I WANT SO BADLY TO BELIEVE
I'LL BE STRONG ENOUGH ONE DAY.
TO SCRAPE THE RUST UP OFF MY HEART
SAND IT ALL AWAY.
UNTIL THEN I'LL JUST LIE HERE STILL.
CLOSE MY EYES AND PRAY.
THAT I WON'T DISENEGRATE AND CRUMBLE
BECOME ASHES, BLOW AWAY.
Burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight
singed by sullen Sol, not stayed by Poseidon's hand;
aflame, aflame, tall ships burn, see their masts ignite.
Impenitent, sky rains ash blackening the night.
Fire sends a smoky pall upon the sea and land,
burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight.
Fire eats: the air, snuffs man's breath; highlighting their plight,
all hands on deck, the Captain calls, out his command.
Aflame, aflame, tall ship burns, see their masts ignite.
Hell's inferno comes calling on this sun lit night,
foul winds blow, fire roars, and so the flames are fanned;
burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight.
Without their ship, crews are lost to a debtors blight.
Up the went like scarecrows shriven by the brand,
aflame, aflame, tall ships burn, see their masts ignite.
Cinder shower catch the dock; workers run in fright.
Pain and heartache fill the wharf; still, they must disband.
Burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight
aflame, aflame, tall ships burn, see their masts ignite.
Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Night' by Turner
Published by Dual Coast 2014
Burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight
singed by sullen Sol, not stayed by Poseidon's hand;
aflame, aflame, the tall ship burns, see the masts ignite.
Unpenitent the sky rains ash blackening the night
the fire sends a smoky pall upon the sea and land
burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight.
Fire eats the air, it snuffs man's breath, death maybe their plight,
yet, all hands come to the Captains call, his to command
aflame, aflame, the tall ship burns, see the masts ignite.
Hell's inferno's come a calling on this sun lit night
a foul wind blows, the fire roars, and so the flames are fanned
burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight.
Without their ship, the crew were lost, debtors they'd alight
they went up like straw scarecrows shriven by the brand
aflame, aflame, the tall ships burn, see their masts ignite.
Burning cinders catch the dock, the workers run in fright.
Pain and heart ache fill the wharf still they must disband.
Burnished gold, aged bronze patinaed by the firelight
aflame, aflame, the tall ship burns, see the masts ignite.
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