Rock Bottom

Its farther down than you think...

Cast into the pit, no more than a rusty metal bowl

To deep to claw and scratch my way to the top

My mind still sings her strangled lyrics

The siren song of a thousand bleeding orgasms

Bending fingernails until the yellowing gelatin snaps

Using them to cut deep, dripping black thoughts and paranoia

The result as desired, the odor of stinking synapse wafts up

The smell of a need to reason for release, he smells it

His smallish head appears at the top of the pit…beaming

Roundish glasses, smart a*s intellect….prying

Clown like hair and caved in chest….lonely

Smile at the corners of his thick and drying lips….smacking

You have hit rock bottom my friend I can no longer help you

He drops a mass of quivering flesh and a bottle of Valium

Cry yourself to sleep, bathe in the feces of a lack of self control

I am your Montresor and you show up in jesters motley

I wipe the stew from my own brow….stinking

My squarish not attractive jaw line…clenching

The foulness of my hatred and bitter thoughts….reeking

The salvation of a final thought…triumphant

I stare at the sullied drainage grate in the middle of the pit

And spit

I smile at my Montresor and squint

Eyes brimming

It seems that you are mistaken

But it happens to the best

I close my eyes and slip into smoke, wisping down the grate

I had not hit rock bottom after all

Author's Note

A little dark..

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is a great poem! There must be a million poems about this topic, posted on this website, but yours is the most original & artfully written that I’ve seen. I love the way there’s not one cliché detail, even tho you include a ton of vivid details to paint a fulsome scene, mocking this guy’s despair (which is why it’s particularly satisfying to have your poem end with your chosen twist). I love the way you often mix it up in your poems by interjecting a purposefully formatted stanza here & there (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Crowley]

One of the first ones I wrote on this site. It was about my sister just after she was murdered after being stuck up in all this s**t. Its a no win situation for some. Thanks for loving it Margie!!!

[barleygirl]

So very sorry to hear this . . . *sigh!*

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

Peeling away the onion layers...there is something profound in the gauge of light and dark. It makes the world turn full circle and tilt a little..I think

[Crowley]

Dark times...and I think you are spot on. Thanks Q!!

[MoonChildPoetry]

this is very deep and powerful. everyone hits rock bottom at some point, but we need to learn how to climb our way back to the top. your note says that this piece is dark but without the darkness we would never cherish the light. poetry is about reality and how it effects us, and everyone's stories need to be told in order for them to be understood. i really enjoyed this piece. thank you for sharing! great work :)

[Crowley]

Thanks so much for reading, I appreciate it!

[Ruth]

Seems there are layers of low within this, external and inside and around sound :) The depths have levels in Poet's world...not unlike Dante...good to read you today hon...

[Crowley]

Dang girl!!!! I just saw this. thanks so much for stopping by! Miss you to pieces!!!

[Kay]

Excellent descriptions and imagery in this piece. They really emphasize the dark struggle and injury of hitting a low point.

[Crowley]

Thanks Kay, and yes for sure!