it's not as dark as it seems

it's not as dark as it seems;

-

the spine snapped like a 

jack-knife, springing home, 

slammed shut, my nausea

and guilt spewed upon the

pavement, molten lava lumps

of half digested plant protein,

bubbling and boiling the tarmac,

scorched brain tries

to disconnect the sun,

sun-blind     mind-blind, waiting

for eclipse, or dark nights

to soothe the broken beast

of me, inside, the shadows wait,

they call my name, 

they know my name, 

-

it's not as dark as it seems;

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

all that is inside, sooner or later comes out...
we digest we excrete
including poetry, sooner or later
the blockage unblocks itself...
and that dark place poets go...gets a bit lighter when the words reemerge.
I like this...great metaphors.
and some really good writing from one we have missed at WC.
j.

[gram linski]

thanks as always for your kind words, j, once again you have seen the heart of darkness, haha, glad you enjoyed.

[Ken e Bujold]

"the spine snapped like a/jack-knife, springing home,/slammed shut... such a stirring image. I really enjoyed your poem Gram. An easy cadence that allows the reader to observe, and feel the angst, but never have to sink into the pit of despair, which you so lightly calm with the killer closing line

My first read of yours, but I'll be back

Ken e

[Eilis]

The thing that tempers the darkness in the poem, for me, is the bookended mantra. Sometimes all we have is the ability to look forward and remind ourselves that the intensity of the moment is not the final anything. It’s not always easy to look past those writhing, heavy-breathing feelings that hover like dark matter all around us, but sometimes projecting ourselves outward is all we’ve got.

Your poetry does have this hallmark of the seemingly impossible dichotomy. You embrace the light and dark at once as though you are able to be two people at one time. That has always drawn me in and given a place in all of your poetry here where I feel at home. I wrestle with the light and dark spinning taijitu constantly, as you know. Your poetry doesn’t present a fight as much as an exhale that translates into some space where calm can be found in chaos. I see the dark but the light is also visible simultaneously. What your poem says to me is just wait, time will ferry you forward and the dark will be behind you.

Your poetry always shows me something deep and essential about being.

[gram linski]

wow, thanks for the great review, Eilis, aye things can get dark but there is always a shining light, you do need to exhale amidst the chaos and breathe and think happy thoughts, it's not as dark as it seems, thanks again for your time and insight, you have always been good at getting to the essence of my poetry usually before me, haha

[Davey Payne]

Powerful stuff Gram! More of this please. Love it

[gram linski]

glad you enjoyed , Davey I appreciate the review, cheers,