Ashes

memories and triggers

  
this stolen song

you crucifying yourself 

in the light of your mother's candle 

burning the edges of your shadow

weeping lyrics into a pile of ashes

fingertips streaking black tears 

sleepless , dreamless


you were at the edge 

the beginnings of poetry 

and broken calendars 

living between lies

    

    if I only could 

    exchange your nightmare 

    for another daydream



these perils of time  

I touched your shoulder 

and you stared 

not knowing  I was still there 

you kept singing 

trembling bitterness 

and I listened

to your acidic tears 

etch my memories 

your fall before that tiny flame 

this helpless sadness 

sleepless , dreamless

empty

copyright 2013 Robin Christopher Amaral

Reviews

[Hayley]

I like how this comes full circle, and I also like your honesty and the picture you paint. The flame and the candle really work well here- it shows a sadness and an insightfulness. You expressed yourself well. I like it when I can feel something else in a poem. Excellent job.

[victoria]

beautifully sad tinged with compassion and optimism in the offer of dreams anew.

[Kenneth The Poet]

Excellent.

[-----]

So sorrowful. It is hard to help someone that is so deeply trenches in misery. A difficult situation, well penned.

[Rossen]

Masterfully expressed...

[emmajoy]

There are tomes that say absolutely nothing but there are twenty seven lines that can move a reader into another place, and, such a sad, sad place. I felt shivers down my spine, imagining an empty - maybe self-destructive spirit, maybe someone in the grips of something out of personal control.. .. And then, the helpless onlooker wanting desperately to magic peace.

You have a way of branding emotions with words.

[Nona]

I have always been thinking of ashes as something magical! I believe it holds much energy of the past... beautiful lines...

[Chris]

I listened... quite for real. Then thoughts flowed, leaked, and spilled round and mounded over my fingertips. I let them fade away because that was what they needed to do... fade away. Thanks for being here.

[Robin]

thank you for sharing your thoughts Chris

[Chris]

I've tried trading daydreams for others' nightmares... and still carry them with my own. You speak with heart and hope... and well beyond my range and I really appreciate your thoughts.

[Corset]

breaks my heart it does, as it should, poetry like this is made to experience, excellent piece Robin :)

[Robin]

Thank you

[yelena]

wow. i'm stunned by your words. i can feel every line and many images unfold in my mind as i read. you write from the heart and i believe that's why your poetry is so unique for perception. i wish i knew what inspired you to write this.
very, very moving~