Out of Sight

They searched for her,

not knowing

that she had melted

and slipped silently through

the cracks in the floorboard,

where she lay listening

to all those who called her name.

In time they went further,

demolishing the walls in

a frenzied need to know

just where she had gone.

If they had looked closely

they might have noticed

the darker stained wood

and the sweet echo of herself

that lingered sorrowfully

in the hallway,

too afraid to leave

but not wanting to stay.

Reviews

[felioness]

Thank you for entering the contest...it is a beautiful entry....and the very first! I will make my selections after the contest closes on September 27th Thanks again!

[Transience]

just lovely.the words are so simple yet create such a powerful effect.the angst,the hopelessness...everything was so palpable.thank you for the piece-it definitely contains the plath flavor.

[New Dawn]

Thank you so much - wasn't sure if it quite qualified but its difficult to write in the style of someone else - I just chose which of my poems came the closest in style - so glad you agreed

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I cannot get how you move from something so simple to something so profound in a line or two! are you a teacher?

[New Dawn]

No, I'm a nurse - perhaps I chose the wrong vocation!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

What branch?

[New Dawn]

I am a District Nurse working evenings - so mostly Palliative care in the home

[John Alexander McFadyen]

And I was a head nurse!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Manness not lice! not nice!

[New Dawn]

Yeah - rewarding 5% of the time, depressing 95% of the time.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No I loved it! I stayed in psychiatry 30 odd years; odd being the proverbial and me fitting the bill. I still work in psychiatry but now for a social care provider of housing and support.

[Curio Arca]

It's hard to comment on a poem that's based on a real life tragedy. I would say that this is my kind of poem, the kind that tells a story, and I would tell you that I particularly liked "echo of herself that lingered sorrowfully in the hallway," but the subject matter of this poem would make such comments seem, to me, poor.

I could also rant about how needlessly cruel reality can be, but I've done that elsewhere. I'll spend these last few words thanking you for the poem; it's something I should quietly think about.

[New Dawn]

Thank you John - I had to think hard about uploading this as it could be seen as insensitive. In a broader sense it relates to the many cases over the years when people have simply disappeared. Every parents worse nightmare. A sad poem I know but one that preyed on my mind until written.

[Distant horizons]

Reminds me of the terrible ongoing story in the news just now of that poor girl Tia.So sad, yet beautifully written.

[New Dawn]

Thank you - this was inspired by Tia's story or though she was still missing at the time and it was the awfulness of sudden disappearences that I was trying to capture. I think everyone has been affected by this awful story and its terrible outcome. Such evil and from those she trusted.

[...]

. extremely poignant and perceptive work, dear shelley ... i think that there was a time when i was living in such an isolation that i never even heard my own voice ... it's a relief that i am beginning to find me again ... i hope the missing child is found soon and then cared for as a child should ...

[New Dawn]

Sadly no happy ending on this one - she has been found murdered by members of her own family. Oh to live in a world where such things never happen

[...]

. oh, that's heartbreaking ... may she find care in heaven ... and i join you in wishing for a better world with all my heart and soul ...

[Tai Ryens]

Intriguing way to ponder on spirits trapped between our world and whatever lay beyond, though I do question why they were searching for her. Really, why? Were they trying to solve a murder, looking for proof of ghosts, searching for a daughter that suddenly went missing, I'm curious now. Care to tell me?~

[New Dawn]

Inspired by a news item about a missing child

[Tai Ryens]

Not I feel idiotic *chuckles.*

[New Dawn]

well I did like your take on it. Thats the beauty of poetry - it can be interpreted in so many ways