You took my breath, Sylvia

 exhaled an insurgence of reckless words 

  onto the pages in an impetuous squeeze

aspirations bled disasters of pen's toxic desire

    insanity's reflections within polarizing ink

plummeting souls of a menacing sundown's revival

  tormenting praise's influence pain's abysmal grip

hero's name written in shadows of colossus 

    jar'd phrases before departure off daddy's ledge

     upon graffiti'd walls of Sylvia's egg rock psyche

knocking the world's poetic axis sideways in madness

  relegated to darkness, terrifying bump in the night

metaphors of an untimely light passage's prerogative

  gone of each labor'd breath's confessional release

sword bled a crimson siphon of exhaust's final tilt

   melancholy chants of 'I Am' resonate in my head

   brag of a familiar beat that collapsed a b*****d heart

footsteps knocked at the wither'd  mushroom sighs

  in notes left beyond a carbon monoxide winter's gate

Author's Note

Reviews

[icelandicblue]

This is gorgeously sad. You've captured events from her life with a profound empathy for her suffering and for her untimely ending. I love her work but it pains me that her brilliance came from such a dark and deep place that eventually she just embraced it. She was her most prolific in the months before she died. I've always thought of it as the calm before the storm. You've done a wonderful job in your tribute to her and the in creating the loss we feel when we read this.

[Frieda P]

She was indeed a tortured soul, one of my favorite poets, her brilliance did come from a dark place mostly, I don't think she realized how much she'd be missed and celebrated. Thanks so much Anne.

[eglantine]

Plath is my ultimate inspiration, poetic hero and muse. So glad you appreciate her as well.

[TL Boehm]

I''ve only been compared to a couple of poets in my life. One was Plath. I don't see it and I didn't then but when it happened I studied up on her. As Blue said it was like the calm before the storm. this is a poignant tribute to her.

[ღCloveღ]

In my youth I am probably incorrect, but i might guess that Sylvia was your sister? Is that true?

[Claire in VA]

Beautiful tribute.
You are an incredible poet.

[Leigh]

Very sad and very well told. This makes me want to be more reckless with words. This adds to her.

[Simran Kewlani]

It's amazingly sad poem. I don't feel the need to say that to you anymore. Because every poem you write is amazing and the words seem to be lively and gentle. :)

[SAYED THANGAL]

it is outstanding, images are wonderful

[Saddam]

Here at writerscafe.org, there are lots of good writing but you are one of them yet a different artist. Great flow with amezing idea. You are one of my favorite.

[Tom]

Indeed ironic as it may be even surreal if you like, but quite often when the writer is at their lowest ebb, creativity and passion seem to arise anew !

A finely penned homily Frieda, to a poetess of unlimited depth of character !

[Nance]

Love this poem.. Sylvia's mind was so delicate, yet fierce. It's hard to read her work without being in agony right along with her to the very end. She will always inspire me. Nice job