Tongue

I come from a place where languages

have widows.

Their adjectives are unclothed, unpronounced

and executed openly in foster care of 

soft-drink republics.

I come from a place where 

all windows were dimpled and pointed to the sea.

Forest had homes. Rivers had folklore.

Until.

They found a door that closes unto itself 

and opens to a market.

I come from a place where

identity has half-sisters and smaller kins

gradually sentenced to passports.

Where trees recede away from people, 

the rain becomes a palimpsest.

peace finds its bookends

between the staccato chatter of guns 

People decay to banners

you and I to silence

because love packed it's bags

and fled our language.

Reviews

[michael.c.m]

I second Ed's review. Well-crafted work here.

[Ed Hart]

it takes a lot of ache to stretch a heart this wide

[Corset]

I always enjoy reading your poems, this one made me feel sad for what was not meant to be left behind and communication is at a stand still, brilliant work .

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

This speaks to me of a longing for the home you knew, but home is not the same as the memories you have of it before what you describe. There is a sense of you being far away from it and grieving what has happened...knowing it is gone and will not be what you knew again. You use trees in your work, and although I am not sure of the exact meaning they have to you, I sense that they could be the happier times, life, freshness, purity, solidity, roots... Your reference to the forests having homes and rivers having folklore speak to me of a time when and where tradition was valued and not sullied by the events that have opened doors to "markets" and "foster care of soft-drink republics". I hope I am not way off here, it's just what I feel from it. Another remarkable work. You are an amazing poet.

[Winslow Des Totes]

I feel a heavy weight upon reading this as though something buried has been dug up and in it's place I am to lay. You've laid many layers of meaning into every sentence that I fear I cannot fathom it's entirety without complete dedication to it's deciphering, but I'm afraid I have to sleep tonight so I will save this in my library to reexamined on a later date! Though from what I've gathered in this deep and enticing piece is a great deal of regret and a sullen warning. I have a piece labeled "Seemingly something" that has too been overlooked in it's attempts at depth and so I can relate to the frustrations that others do not or cannot see what is been placed so clearly before them but under a thin sheath of creative expression. For this I will try my best to not waste your talented words and truly attempt to grasp their full weight and meaning! Also, you've taught me a new word: "palimpsest!" One in which I've yet to cross before in all my studies, and for that I greatly thank you! I love expanding my vocabulary as well as peering into the soul of another great writer! ;) So I guess I gave two thanks to give you on top of the thanks for the great review! Till when next we meet, "Tongue" and Abhra, hopefully then I can truly appreciate all that you are, and can be to me.

[Wondering Mind]

the imagery is perfected to cause dismay.