Graham's Mother

A mother's greatest sin

“I'm not mad. I'm just...well, differently moraled, that's all.”  - Jasper Fforde (The Eyre Affair)

But that’s dainty!

Neat and square-

Perfect for my little Graham.

Snuggle up, sonny!

 

Mud pulps

And

Shoveled vines of periwinkle,

All tawny and soaked

In nocturnal drizzles.

Must I say!

They found it easy to dig!

 

A cortege

Of umbrellas

And

Charcoal blazers.

Silken scarves,

Nods- brusque and terse

Tom-tom in

The Nordic winds.

 

You hug me too tight, Irma!

(Big, fat bubblegum tears)

Pity!

Look darling!

What I brought you!

Lucas Jr. - the Golliwog

Sorry, his nose fell off

But he had a fight

With Nyra -

Martha’s Tinkerbelle fairy

Here - the Mandrake comics

All thirty-three of them!

And yes!

These gladioli-

Aunt Yvonne sent them.

 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”

 

Tut! Tut!

Father Prescott is too loud!

 

Cassandra!

Pull down that birdcage veil!

No peek-a-boo!

These opera gloves- A complete giveaway!

Translucent satin strands

Playing spoil-sport

Betray

The amethyst stains

Of the Belladonna potion

That you spiked

 In his cranberry juice.

Wriggle your fingers!

Cover up!

 

(Last kisses and goodbye)

 

It’s all right honey!

The cherubs

On the headstone

Will sing you lullabies.

And I’ll send Martha along.

Promise!

(Cross-my-heart)

 

So long sweetheart!

 

So long!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

This is a dark, evil write I came up with. ( I honestly don't know what made me write this. I'm a fairly happy person). It's about a mother who suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or Split personality (though I am not sure about the categorization). She simultaneously goes though different conversations in her head ( the reason I have used different fonts to indicate the different entities she converses to) which eventually reveals the heinous crime she commits being a mother.
Your views will be appreciated :)

I am adding an explanation of certain symbolism, imagery and verses I have used in this poem. ( I didn't originally intend to, but I'm doing so in case you found this difficult to interpret)

"THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT" : This is a verse from the bible. This means that you are content with what the Lord has given you. This verse is often recited at funerals and cremation.

BELLADONNA POTION: Belladonna is a plant which has both medicinal and poisonous properties. It has purple or amethyst colored flowers. The foliage and the berries of the plant are extremely poisonous and can be used to make deadly poisons.

CHERUBS: They are sort of baby or toddler angels. You often find their engravings on children graves.

GOLLIWOG: ( I'm including this explanation after some feedback from my readers) A golliwog was a black character you would find in children's books by English authors. It was also commercially produced as dolls. It had had run into some racism issues. However I use it in my poem simply as a connotation for a toy. There's nothing more to it.

I have included these explanations for a better understanding of this piece (in case you didn't know what they meant). These are some of the key elements that weave the plot of this piece and finally makes the story evolve. I'm not revealing the plot.. but all I can say is that if this would have been written as a story, it would be a murder-mystery. Hope this helps.. Enjoy the read and please let me know if you liked it.. :)

Reviews

[Ees]

It's rather creepy. I feel like I can hear a tinkling chime of a music box playing, if you know what I mean...
I did find this a bit hard to understand, though I got the references that were explained in the Author's Note... it was, I don't know the disjointedness... maybe that is what left me a bit mystified. There was nothing specific that confused me...
But I don't think that'll bother you, as it adds to the creepy quality and I believe that you acomplished what you set out to do.

[Pratik]

Thank you for the review.... Yes I wanted it to be a bit under the wraps...
I don't believe I'm doing this but I will leave you a clue here...
Read them sequentially...

Mother -> Graham (her son) -> mud, black coats, funeral speeches (the setting) -> toys, books, flowers (parting gifts)->(**flash-back) belladonna (poison)->cranberry juice( the spiked drink) -> cherubs( tombstone -the scene closes)-> Martha (her next victim)..

Now what do you make out of this? can't say any more ;) :D

[Ees]

Nah, I got it... sort of. I am not very good at explaining where I was confused. This happens to me all of the time and it always turns out that I wasn't really confused, lol, maybe I use the wrong word? I get the disturbed mother thinking of things for the son that she killed.

[Christopher Steven Evan..]

A Very complex and deep poem Aaron. As usual i enjoy your wording, some of it is astounding. At times I do get tangled up in your poems, but strangely enjoy the confusion. When i try to dissect your poems it seems to take something away. (like discovering the secret to how a magic trick is performed) I think your peoms have more impact taken as read and i would personally hold back on the explanations. Keep some of the confusing mystique that surrounds them (especially in this one) and let the reader fill in the blanks. Make the reader work, like completing a crossword it will be more rewarding for the reader to do it themselves unaided. (if they can)

[Pratik]

Thanks a million Christopher.... You just voiced my true intentions of writing this poem... I put these explanations because many failed to understand what this was all about; but again that was just the effect the poem should have elicited ( because it was written from the point of view of a woman who suffers from a personality disorder).... many found it confusing and ambiguous and I don't blame them but every poem or as a matter of fact any literary work find its way to its readers and admirers, no matter how few of them and I am glad this poem did so when people like you are ready to walk an extra mile to give more than an usual thought to interpret a writing... I guess that's where the triumph of art lies.. :) Thanks once again..... You just made my day :)

[poetdoug]

I love your choice of 'word painting' words and phrases. Filled with 'Thinkabiliy!"

[Nicky Sarti]

You just freaked me out...
You best come and hold my hand while I go downstairs!
Brilliant and scary (sort of) ~ really well written too!

[Pratik]

Ha! Ha! Thank you... :) I am glad you liked it :)

[Nicky Sarti]

I did...
But I know need my blankee to keep me safe!

[Pratik]

You need not worry! She is in jail ;)

[Nicky Sarti]

Phew!

[An owl on the moon]

So powerful and manic... like a darkness unleashed and coated in a sugar sweet cloak. Just made my mind tumble to take it all in. Loved the stunning pulse and the form of the fonts.. added to the thrust!

[Pratik]

Thank you so much Craig.... None of my poems here are complete without you reading it; you always have the best things to say about of them.. Cheers :)

[Redrascalstrawberry]

Dark, full of surprises and a brilliant write! Great work!

[Pratik]

Thank you :)

[G!o]

Reading this, it felt like watching a scene from a dark gory film. This is really some good writing and "lovely" picture creation and to match the patch you have used some fonts that really made it stand out. I had to read author's not first the go back to reread the poem to fully understand. Beautiful dark writing.

[Pratik]

Thanks a million.. I'm glad you liked it :)

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

definitely dark, brilliantly written......you have outdone yourself with this one. I deeply appreciate the author's note that you supplied us with, extremely helpful.

[Pratik]

Hey thanks Neva... I am so glad you liked it :) Hope you are doing well.... :)

[Victoria PoetryBunny]

First off very nice pictures used as well as the quote before the poem itself. This seems like a twisted and dark write for sure, I like the details you wrote, as well as the imagery and speaking.
I really enjoyed this part here which is really good for the ending:
"It’s all right honey!
The cherubs
On the headstone
Will sing you lullabies."
The way you used different font is very nice to separate the different conversations.
I must thank you for your explanations/definitions in your author's note, those have helped me.
Back to the poem, I really like this, a "murder-mystery" type write indeed.

[Pratik]

Thanks Victoria :) ... i wrote the details in the author's note because I found many of my readers found the piece confusing... I am so glad you liked this piece :)

[Tate Morgan]

This is a deep deep deep dark look into the recesses of the human mind.Hmm i think I know someone capable of this skulduggery lol.She is a member here lol Just kidding.I often wonder is there anything a human is incapable of?

[Pratik]

LOL... I'm a-MUSE-d... :) So might be she!! But yes, I think there are people like them out there, few but they are there...

[Muse]

Before I read your note to readers I felt the voice of more than one character unfold through out your poetry made prose. So well done there! The lords prayer....the mock funeral at the end. I felt like she was not only trying to console herself..but the others around who she must be driving BONKERS! This is truly unique penning. High scores.

Muse

[Pratik]

Thanks Muse.. :) I know you write a lot of dark stuff, so coming from you means a great deal to me :)

[GypsyAlien3303]

Now I haven't read a lot of poetry but overall I liked it. :)

[Pratik]

Thank you :)