irish moss

The night air slides in again

full pike and plumb on

the slope. Moorhens screech

in joy, deranged

as demons noosed in rope.

“Go, stretch the rope” at first

the thought protrudes and airs

the sod, but standing on a shoddy spade

he catches on the thought:

and then he lets it go…

He lets it go and stoops to cough:

his ribs they jump, his lungs

expound upon a wasted grace,

and all the more the moorhens

sound against his face.

While from afar through sedge,

through mud, and on the icy twilight

wades one with whom had born his child

three days ago this night.

Though she had breathed her last

back then, her eyes they did not close:

he pressed them down by trembling hand

and locked them with a rose…

 

His ribs they jump, his tears

roll down in spit and sorrow mad.

The night air slides in again

dissolving all the ironclad refineries

of what they’d hoped;

and also, what they had…

He lays the infant low,

just three days past its birth,

and - fever pitch - he damns the stars

and swears a curse into the belly

of the earth and

out into the moorhens’ lea.

     ... ‘til I,

     his neighbour, came to find him

     twisting in a tree.

Reviews

[Corset]

This is such a wonderful poem, the timing seems off just a bit in some places (I have trouble with this too)
would suggest -"he damns the stars and the Earth and into it's belly swears a curse" cause that's where I kind of tripped up, and this poem is so incredibly imaginative it just seems to grip one's sense of the morose and shakes like a pit bull.

of interest to me only:
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Added on June 22, 2014
Last Updated on June 22, 2014

[charlie]

Thanks for your suggestion, C. I like the sound of it and will take it on board. Much appreciated.

[Corset]

I'm always unsure if I can make a suggestion without offending, and I hope I didn't because I really believe this to be upper scale endeavor and would enjoy reading more of your work.

[Resa]

I have not lost a child thank God, or what ever power is in motion.
This poem, I can’t really find the words to explain how I feel about this piece. You’re either writing from experience, or deep empathy.
Either way, incredible!
Thank you for sharing this.
Resa.?

[charlie]

Thank you for taking the time, Resa. It's encouraging.

[Beccy]

Impossible to imagine the loss of a child, the gut wrenching sense of rage at the unfairness of such a terrible thing.

Here though, you have captured the essence; 'he damns the stars and swears a curse into the belly of the earth.'

Powerful and compelling poetry.

Beccy.

[charlie]

Thanks for reading, Beccy. Ever ha those occasions where a piece of writing comes streaming in your forehead, seemingly complete? This happened to be one of those. I must have tapped into a ley line, or some such.

[andrew mitchell]

A dark haunting poem that lingers like smoke after its read!

[Phil Roberts]

Powerful and haunting images. I particularly like ""His ribs they jump, his tears/ roll down in spit and sorrow mad". beautiful pathos ! Excellent write, Charlie

[Dean]

Your work from the very beginning is an absolute wonder. It is with appreciation and a trip to the outer crags of poetry (that I seldom see--even from the masters) that moves me down even lower on the list of unplanned pretentiousness. Thank you for making this site so much more worth my while than I ever suspected.

(if you ever find the time to look at some of my earlier work here, I would so appreciate it. I could really use your critical guidance if I could so waste a bit of your time.

[Layi Tate]

Wow.... death is so sad yet beautiful.....

[charlie]

and life even more so ...

[Layi Tate]

Agreed... Beautiful piece .

[David Watson Brown]

Beautiful, haunting piece. Very well done, sir

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is a classically dark poem which in texture reminds me of Seamus Heaney with its vivid smells and sights

[Vesa Lee]

First thoughts after reading the last line: "wow".
Brooding, melancholy, and each line so weighted with feeling that I feel as if I am being lower into the grave myself.
The imagery is like something one would find in a Bronte novel...a comparison I hope is received as the compliment is intended to be.
Excellent write - I look forward to reading more.

[charlie]

Thank you, Vesa. Not familiar with A Bronte novel, but I will take that compliment :)

[Wandering Minstrel]

Each line so full of imagery and passion. Very nicely done!