Half Past Broken

All the things that take your breath when you walk with grief

Sometimes I think

Of castles

I do not know kings

Or fetes and feasts

But I know dungeons

Lovely dark and deep

And frost

 

Sometimes I think

Of clocks

I do not know telling time

By sun or shadow

But I know waiting

Increments and minutiae

And grains of sand

 

Sometimes I think

Of wings

I do not know cardinals

Or nests or songs

But I know Icarus

Wings of wax and paper

And falling

 

Sometimes I think

Of rain

I do not know floods

Or tides and flow

But I know drowning

Stolen breath and fading

And you

-Zoe Richardson

Author's Note

Your time and your gifts are precious. I thank you for both!

Reviews

[Caroline B A Maguire]

This is beautiful. To not know the light but only to feel the darkness of soul..to feel the loss from death or hearts broken these pains are very real and leave us longing for that which is gone.. thank you for this insight into your angst.. it is good to share amongst friends .Caroline 😊

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you for noticing that this is a poem about contrasts. The good things that aren't known. The dark things that are. Grief comes out that way, as a comparison between what you had and what you lost. And a burden shared is a burden eased. So glad you stopped by!

[Betty Hermelee]

To me, this is a dark, soulful piece, beautifully organized and with unique imagery; you show us how half of a heart feels; forlorn, damaged, empty, ; I like the phrase: “stolen breath”… you say you don’t know a lot about common themes, yours is more related to biblical themes….but written in a very clever way….very subtle; well done!
Best
B.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! I try not to let my love of the King James language creep in too much, but sometimes it does anyway. I try to capture feelings, and the images they evoke, in words. I am glad you picked up on that and, that you enjoyed it!

[Betty Hermelee]

I did enjoy it, You're very welcome
B.

[LostSage]

this is mysterious and dark. I know you well enough that this is real. me too. join the club. you are always in my club. jeff

[Zoe Richardson]

I always wanted to be in a club! Do we have a secret handshake?

[alanwgraham]

This a great poem Zoe. Your repeated structure works really well with the examples of not knowing and knowing given. There is an almost hymn like feel about.
All the best,
Alan

[Zoe Richardson]

A lot of my poetry has the feeling of the Psalms. I am steeped in the KJV of the Bible. The language is lovely and lyrical, and sometimes, even though I am not trying, it comes out when I write. I guess you never get too far from your raising! Thank you for your kind review, and please stop by anytime!