Hollow Bones

The earth takes a breath, another, then sighs. It holds on to me as tightly as I hold on to it, though it would not have me know that just yet.

Just as the chestnut is eaten from the inside out,

just as the log spanning the river crumbles to mulch,

the skeleton in this body weathers away.

It is not the discarding of a mortal and vulnerable body,

nor the mind plunging downward into vibrant blue.

Clear as the sky may be,

it can be refreshing and still ripple with the aftermath of my dive.

I plunge deeper yet higher, 

all in one moment.

This was my truth a long time ago, and yesterday.

It is not my truth today.

The soft forest floor is my magnet.

I cling to the earthen ceiling with vigor.

I have no flesh to pull me away,

no bone or marrow to pitch me downward into clouds.

I am light.

I am the breeze.

I am dust.

The canopy drapes beneath me and I sink upwards into oblivion.

My body?

I see it.

It stares at me upside down 

from the scrying mirror in the grass.

Author's Note

I haven’t written any poetry in a while, it feels good to warm back up to it. I wonder if I should have written this in paragraph form—It feels a little clunky. What do you think?

Reviews

[Pash]

Clunky? I wouldn't say so. The structure provides a unique rhythm and feel to your story. Beautiful and solemn. Well done good Sir!

[Ribs]

Thank you, that means a lot!!

[willweb]

I like the layout of the poem. It does make the reader think and if it had been in paragraph form, I do not think it would have the impact it does. Really nicely done and welcome back to poetry.

[Ribs]

Thank you very much! I've always been a write first worry later kind of guy, so it's good to know I haven't lost my touch (or at least all of it haha)

-Ribs