Burnt Destiny

I hide, to no avail,
from the vagaries of life,
but they sniff me out
by the copper in my blood

and the salt in my tears;
biological breadcrumbs that crumble
my psyche into splinters always
hidden from polite company.

I long to walk along the median line
that splits the highway, it's linear spine
so perfectly placed, calls to me
to follow it with tandem gait,

but the road map I follow
looks more like palmistry,
my air hands flail around my face
while my fate line remains uncertain.

Twists and turns await preventing me
from seeing what lies beyond the next bend
and retracing steps through the badlands
is impossible to fathom.

So I push on with head down
breathing in jagged puffs and pray
that the sun will some day break through
and simply burn me to a pile of ash.

Author's Note

Captcha: gasser

Reviews

[Frieda P]

I can hardly articulate how affecting this was blue...I felt it in my bones and to my very core. You've rendered me speechless...

and the salt in my tears;
biological breadcrumbs that crumble
my psyche into splinters always
hidden from polite company.

Cut from the same cloth, I weep for you daily....'biological breadcrumbs' nuff said.

[icelandicblue]

Now I'm tearing up. I know you know and I am so sorry that you do. Last night was a rough and sleepless one- this poem was born from that. I want it to stop and I am powerless to stop it and still I try. Thank you my friend.

[Frieda P]

We should have taken off for Belize yesterday, rough day for me too, my sister's anniversary, compounded by the burnt edges of all this crap, when do we get a break? I guess we can't stop trying, it's not in our DNA to give up, but in the meantime it's killing us slowly...I feel you my friend.

[icelandicblue]

Yes we should have run on to that plane! I'm so sorry Frieda.

[Pryde Foltz]

that splits the highway, it's linear spine

If only our paths in life were this easy to follow. A brilliant piece. I am glad I stumbled upon it.

[icelandicblue]

Hi Pryde,

Thanks for reading this one. I am really pleased you liked it.

[Lydia Shutter]

The intensity of emotion in this write is overwhelming! The images your words conjured were precise and dark. We so often hide our true emotions in "polite company"....but that is not a healthy way to live. May the sun find you and brighten your path. Very well written poetry. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Lydi,

Life can be overwhelming at time- wishing it away doesn't work but it doesn't mean I don't do it.

[Angi]

Oh Blue, this is such good work. I had to slow myself down and follow the path you were leading us down. Linear spine, palmistry, air hands flailing, badlands...the images these words conjure... Seeing her plodding on, only to be (she hopes) burnt to ash and blown on the wind. This makes me feel the words, Blue. So good. Angi~

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Angi. I appreciate your review.

[Samuel Pennell]

This is a really fantastic poem! I love the idea of the spine of the median strip, and believing that the sun will burn you. Intense! Beautiful.

[icelandicblue]

Samuel,
I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. Thank you so much for your kind words.

[Samuel Pennell]

No problem.

[Im His Daughter]

faith... walking blindly through life, hoping & praying we are going in the right direction.. great poem...

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so very much. It is in the moments that our faith falters that we find ourselves in the darkest corners.

[TL Boehm]

oh my goodness. Wanting the sun to reduce you to rubble. I get that and I ache at the recognition. usually when I feel like this there is no poetry - only profanities and tossing of objects. I love the description of the path you travel in this piece but what really sucked me in were the first two stanzas. I found them....amazing.

[icelandicblue]

I am truly honored by your review. I do the profanities and tossing of objects as well. Sometimes I can find the words too.

[Jack...]

Anne, my heart breaks with your words this day. My mind dreams of way to soothe and comfort. These crossroads can be very treacherous, look both ways before crossing, but keep your focus on the road ahead, some beautiful scenery I believe is waiting just past the next rest stop.

Deep and sorrowful was your poem this day, but as always, the beauty of your style sings to me. A sad song perhaps, but music nonetheless.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Jack. It is always a bright point in my day when you grace my work with your words.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

So I push on with head down
breathing in jagged puffs and pray
that the sun will some day break through
and simply burn me to a pile of ash. -- wow...

I have felt this way before; the depth of emotion here is so tangible. I felt every word and every honest emotion of this one. Striking write.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Sarah. There are those times when the sun shines on the cold hard truth that seems impossible to bear.

[redflutterby]

Palpable ache and uncertainties run deep in this piece. Its painful to read..piercing the heart like a dagger. Incredibly sad Anne...

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Red,
Life can be sad. I appreciate the comment. It's always good to hear from you.

[redflutterby]

Yes my sweet friend..sometimes far more then sad. Sending you my love and hugs! Always here...

[Baby Ricochet]

This is a great piece blue. Love the metaphors

[icelandicblue]

Thanks BR- some days are just like that.