Rags Upon Her Bones

A poem about my mother...

She’s sad, she’s broken, she’s all alone

Her skin like rags upon her bones

She sits, she waits, for a call

Praying over a silent phone

 

Mother, do you feel?

The ache, the pain, the life it steals?

The monster came, and it took

From your eyes, that loving look

Like a silent temptress, a clever crook.

 

Her children sit, in the other room

While with you, the monster looms

It takes from you, and it consumes

Your life, your pride, your children too

 

Years have past, and I am grown

I’ve lost my way, I’ve lost my home

I fled away, my soul on loan

But I see her still,

…my mother’s skin, like rags on bones

 

Upon another woman, another lonely girl

Who’s life is broken, its thread unfurls

Tarnishing, the precious pearls

Of her eyes, amidst the swirls

Of the tears that have yet to clear

From all the painful, lonely years

 

And I wonder now, if the moon could see

All the pain, this rising sea

Of tidal waves, emotions bring

 

Would it cry its crystal tears?

For all the lonely years?

For all the pain, washed away,

With Vicodin and beers?

 

I hold this woman close, frail in my arms

I try to whisper words, to keep her out of harm

I hide the breaking, in my heart

The shattered memories,

-tearing me apart

 

Her skin like rags upon her bones

The pearl eyes, turned to rust

Her heart is worn-out, shattered stone

Her lips are dried, her words spit dust

 

But I pray, I say, we’ll be okay

You’re not my mother, you won’t decay

From life to ash, we’ll find a way

To take those pearls and make them shine

To break the stone, and leave behind

The painful past, you now define

 

Your lips will wet, I’ll kiss them soon

There will be no tears from the moon

Your words will sing, everybody knows

Your bones will dress, in finer clothes

 

And return the flesh, the monster tore

And when it’s gone,

-you won’t need those things, -anymore…

Author's Note

This is a poem about my mother, and many of the girls I've met like her in my life...

Reviews

[Kelsey]

"And I wonder now, if the moon could see
All the pain, this rising sea
Of tidal waves, emotions bring"

This is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It says so much about the feelings of a child that deals with this, that has their mother taken from them due to drugs and other problems. You can really see the mother falling apart as you read this, you can feel the child wanting so badly to help her through it. It's a touching piece. Your work never fails to amazing me. Wonderful job, my friend. I always love reading your writing.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you, as always. Its something that's made a big impact on who I am today, I'll never deny that. But I'm the stronger for it. This was an interesting poem to write, though difficult. I just had that one line in my head. "She's sad, she's broken, she's all alone / Her skin like rags upon her bones" That's the image I've had of my mother for many years now and its what led me to write this poem.

[Cole Hayley]

Once again a very well penned poem. Smart and intellgent, just as everything else you have written. The third last stanza is the one that sticks out the most. Very well written.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you very much.

[Apatheia]

I like this a lot. It's something I can relate to. Very good writing. Once again, I'm impressed.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you, as always. We seem to come from similar pasts, so I value your opinions on these pieces.

[b.platte]

I can't get over how great your poetry is. The flow is just so amazing every time.

And the way you describe certain things... its mind blowing.

'You’re not my mother, you won’t decay
From life to ash, we’ll find a way'

I really liked this, because we were discovering something with the you at this point. It was a point of realization that just wrapped the whole poem into what it is, it's wonderful.

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you so much. That line meant a lot to me as well. And of course the title line. My mother looked so frail it pretty much appeared as if she were nothing but skin and bones.

[MachinaWriter]

Its made a huge impact on who I am today. I can't deny that. I've learned to accept it at this point in my life.

[b.platte]

I can completely understand where you are coming from. It's great that you have a talent for writing so you can use it as an outlet to get these feelings out.

[Matt Gandee]

Beautiful, well-written, and clearly very heartfelt... I don't have the best relationship with either of my parents, so this one definitely hit home for me.
Great work. :)

[MachinaWriter]

Yeah, me neither. My father's a very cynical man who I've been disconnected with for quite some time now and my mother...well, her story's already on this site in a few different poems. I'll probably write one about that man eventually, but there's a lot of rage still there. Thank you for reading this, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[JodieH]

This is very good, I like it a lot. :)

[nivram]

I can feel your pain and helplessness, coverd by real concern. Reminds me of my Moms.

[MachinaWriter]

Yeah, it was difficult to live with. It still affects me today. I wrote this after my poem Dear Mother which is also on here.

[Sirius King]

well written of course, u made a sad dark situation, and turned it into a beautiful work of art, nice

my favorite stanzas :

Years have past, and I am grown

I’ve lost my way, I’ve lost my home

I fled away, my soul on loan

But I see her still,

…my mother’s skin, like rags on bones



Years have past, and I am grown

I’ve lost my way, I’ve lost my home

I fled away, my soul on loan

But I see her still,

…my mother’s skin, like rags on bones


and

Her skin like rags upon her bones

The pearl eyes, turned to rust

Her heart is worn-out, shattered stone

Her lips are dried, her words spit dust

[MachinaWriter]

Thank you, that means a lot. The first two lines hit me all at once and I just started from there. My mom had a bad meth addiction, so this one and Dear Mother are both about that. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Sirius King]

thanx for being brave and telling ur story,,,good work man