The River

clanking keys, rattling knees,

words coming out in two's and threes.

i take you out and dump you down

the dirty sink, all covered in bees.

 

who left these bees to sting my knees?

my rattling knees that break me down,

and leave me to drown,

pig-nosed and brown,

tied up to trees

in the river.

 

the bees, they found me years ago.

queit, shy, and far from home.

they put on a suit, a hat and tie,

said,

"Follow us down to the river."

 

but i was quick, and clever too.

though maybe not as quick as you.

those bees they left me standing

bare, naked

beside the river.

 

and when they left,

and left behind,

the stingers barbed and bruising blue,

i whispered to you

through the yellowing leaves,

"How could you do these things to me?"

 

you turned your head and,

quick as theives,

you cut down the cage that covered me.

you ripped me open through and through.

said,

"Follow me down to the river."

 

i had no choice,

i was gagged and bound.

there was buzzing and laughter all around.

and the water that ran was buzzing too,

the water that ran in the river.

 

my head was plunged,

as were my feet.

the icy river swallowed me.

and all was black,

all black and blue,

like the bruises and bones and bumbling bees.

 

and my rattling knees,

broken like you,

fell down to the depths of

the river.

Author's Note

Experimenting with rhyme and rhythm. I'm not usually one for super "rhymey" poetry, or any rhyming at all, so I decided to take a little different approach. Let me know what you think!
Photography is also my work (Glenwood Cemetary, Houston, Texas)

Reviews

[ReaThoughts]

I really, really, really, really loved this piece. It's dark and commands one to read on. I liked the rhyme scheme the only time I ever felt like it was maybe out of rhythm was in the second to last stanza "like the bruises and bones and bumbling bees." But I may just very well be reading it wrong. It's a wonderful poem. You have a great talent!