inherited demons

inherited demons

A Poem by William James McPhee

would that she’d slain
    them… I’d not have to
  continue her work…
        I’d see colors as
 they are meant to
   be seen…
                    rather than vibrant assaults.
I’d breathe lightly
        rather than engulfing
  enough air to last…
      should my soul be
  stripped from this world
                              and sent to a
      desolate hell.

although perhaps I’d
          find her there waiting
    for me… and we
       could have tea like
 we used to…

                ...        before the demons return.

© 2009 William James McPhee


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Reviews

Thank you both for your reviews.

@ Naomi: I did not give more details initially, as I believed the title alluded to it being the narrator's mother (inherited). True, it could be someone else, but that is what allows the reader to imagine someone that is close to them (wherein they may have felt the same emotions). I feel leaving a certain amount of freedom in a piece is sometimes very effective in getting emotional responses from the reader, as they can invest of themselves.

@ Debileah: some of what I wrote of does come from my past... though the demons I write of are far more frightening than either you mention.

Posted 15 Years Ago


whatever you do , do not serve the demons tea. I find demons like to haunt minds that have the time for to entertain them..therefore my thoughts would rather entertain those things wish I wish to be like. Now if I was certain they were going to return I'd at least try to lock the door.
I am not trying to make fun of this poem it seems really serious and it seems can I assume it is from the heart .. that someone in your life has inspired it? Anyhow I only mean to share what I do ..to chase away my demons( symbolic ones of course) I know that some people face stronger issues they can not easy disperse of, your poem seems expresses that type of feeling as for the writing I too tend to think it does not matter that the reader understand it all as it really is for myself I write ..if you want this one to be better understood I suggest ..giving more details in the first stanza, like who is this she you speak oF?
That is up you ..



Posted 15 Years Ago


Having read this poem twice over, I tend to get the picture of mental illness or perhaps alzheimer's disease that has taken her away and one misses the quiet times, the sharing of intimacy like old conversations over a cup of tea. I hope I am not completely off track. A lovely well written piece. Thank you for sharing. Debileah

Posted 15 Years Ago



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Added on July 18, 2009


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