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.

[♔ CrownedDevil &#..]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, this poem, Frieda. :-D

Kaze~

[Jay Steitler]

The free form of this writing illustrates well, the often disturbed nature of a brilliant writer, such as Ms Plath. The line about "knocking the world's poetic axis sideways", only compliments that concept. A brilliant piece!

[Rita L. Sev]

This leaves me speechless, Frieda. He life was tragic, her work unprecedented; I think Sylvia would appreciate your words tremendously...

[Kleio13]

Honestly, your best poem Frieda. You captured it better than I probably ever could have.

A tribute to you as well.

K

[MsJewel]

A beautiful tribute to a brilliant poet. You have captured her well Frieda.

:) Julie

[B-poet]

An imaginative masterpiece. Loved your way with words all throughout this one Frieda. Great work, an intriguing read. :)

[Avinash]

It's a true portrayal of one of the strongest female voices. Always in love with strong women. There is so much there in them to explore and learn.

[gabrielle]

Ah, Sylvia Plath. She was introduced to me by a respected writer in here. Her Lady Lazarus was very haunting (I have yet to finish The Bell Jar) This is a brilliant tribute, Ms. F!