"Poems"

I birth them and lock them up

in the basement, away from the light.

My poems are aimless people, 

born from my mind's stunted womb,

They deserve no place in the literary scape 

save to serve as reminders 

Of the still birth of full bodied, 

purposeful prose,

in the desolate maternity home 

of my intellect,

where midwives commit murders.

My poems don't know,

I've been wrapping them in shrouds

as they scream, "Why this dissociation?"

I don't want to tell them 

there's no cloth grey enough 

to mask their hopelessness 

I watch them bleed from vestigial legs, 

trying to kick open their coffins.

As I rudely slam them shut.

Author's Note

Artist: Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) (Spanish, Fuendetodos 1746–1828 Bordeaux)

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

Dearest Divya
Well written poem of deprecation... powerful words to portray those who have lived an unimaginable life form the womb on....still births and aimless people...'in a desolate maternity home"...." where midwives commit murders"....they are hopeless people..nothing to mask them...."locked up and away from the light"...how truthful and frightening.... excellent portrayal!
Warmly, B

[Ayvid N]

Thank you so much, my friend Betty. Your kind words for this poem are so appreciated. I hope to return some day soon.
Best,
D

[Betty Hermelee]

You’re very welcome!🌷
Warmly, B

[Betty Hermelee]

Hope you return soon, dear Divya🌷🌷🌷🌷

[Sameeksha Vadisherla]

The creative frustration can be felt from those lines, sometimes, what we aim to write doesn't always turn out as we wish and that feeling can be truly disturbing. ''wrapping them in shrouds...''still birth of full bodied prose''...''I watch them bleed from vestigial legs, trying to kick open their coffins''. This is a wonderfully written, haunting masterpiece, dear Divya. My words are not enough to appreciate your talent, my friend.

Hope you're doing good and have a beautiful day :)

[Andrew John]

A poem says so much about a poem! When a poem is one of your babies! Nice poem.

[Neville]

Don't knock em D .. I regard those privy to me most highly .. whereas many of mine I fear resemble mere zygotes :)

[Ayvid N]

I would knock em if I wrote some. Can't seem to write anything lately. Thanks a lot for the kind words, my friend. Sorry for the delay in response, been slightly unwell.
Keep having a great day. 🙋‍♀️

[Neville]

Ouch, not what I wanted to hear at all ..
I absolutely insist you start feeling better immediately .. Take care in the meantime, I'll see if I can give your muse a nudge .. AGT's, Neville

[Soren]

Wow! Divya the portrayal of poems as children I have heard before but never such as this. A visual image of infants and fetus' mistreated and dying, buried is so vivid and in many ways accurate. A great metaphor fleshed out in this marvelous piece.

[Ayvid N]

Thank you so much, my friend Soren. My poems are becoming more like pale, lifeless fetuses delivered and discarded in a dark lane, nowadays. I truly appreciate your thoughtful review.

[Soren]

Do not think of them so. I think of mine as my children who have moved away and no longer contact me but are an influence on others.

[Ayvid N]

Poetry indeed leaves its lasting touch on the world.
Thanks for that beautiful thought....

[Marie]

Wow! What a v-e-r-y powerful write with equally powerful depiction in this breathtaking poem, dear Dyvia! Sometimes we have to discard our poems for various reasons, and that sadness is very eloquently expressed through excellent word choice. Not all our poems see the light of day when they are born, sadly. Superb allegorical inking! Thank you for sharing, dear Dyvia. A very big WELCOME BACK! You have been sssssssooooo missed! SO happy you are here again! Hope you are well and that all is well with you ❤️

[Ayvid N]

Dear Marie,
Can't express my joy enough to read your superb review. Thank you for relating to my thoughts in the poem. Thank you so much for welcoming me back, my friend. It's beyond awesome to reconnect with you. ❤️

[Marie]

Most welcome always, D. The site feels like "Home" now you are back again! Wishing you a very lovely evening to enjoy, dear friend...

[tumi]

Very powerful words In your poem dear divya I'm glad to see you back
You shall always shut them up with you lovely poem
The imagery created was superb
Splendid and lovely

[Ayvid N]

My heartfelt thank you, dear Tumi. It's wonderful to see you doing so well on the cafe. Keep up the great posts!

[tumi]

Thanks so much
To be honest your kind words and encouragement kept me on
Even when it becomes tough
So times

[Ayvid N]

That's just great to know that my words made a difference. The talent is all yours though. Keep going and I'll be happy to provide my feedback.

[carl]

very powerful images to describe that which is unfit for human consumption. I too have these stashed in spiral repositories under the bed or cached in the depths of binary death in forgotten flash drives deep in cloud's heart. No eyes but mine may see these aborted attempts and then only when it happens by accident. "desolate maternity home of my intellect" great wording in and around this phase. powerful statement, this "My poems are aimless people, born from my mind's stunted womb" Really enjoyed reading this piece of work -carl

[Ayvid N]

Thank you for relating to this writing, Carl. I really appreciate that you cared enough to stop by and comment .