Murder Me (Napowrimo Day 17)

by Poet on the Piano   Apr 18, 2021


There are ways we talk around
her, taking shameful steps,
cocoons of tragedy on our lips,
nursing silence instead of
resolutions -

condemning death
instead of the crimes
committed as products of our birth.

Before I grow old,
though it's not the nearness
of Death I fear,
nor crow's feet and wrinkled skin
and heart palpitations,

I will ask her to hold me

while my mind is my own,
even before the imprints of
you have aged on my cervix.

I'll still carry your trauma,
no matter where I garden
my beginnings.
I've gained enough wisdom
for five lifetimes;
don't make me search for more.

And I'll beg,
clutching on to her like a
tightened noose:

"Please, don't show any mercy."

_____________________

Prompt by Obscure - Aging (or simply age)

Written while listening to "Murder Song" by Aurora
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTwdGRHl5Mw

4


Did You Like This Poem?

Latest Comments

  • 3 years ago

    by Brenda

    This is so cool Mary Anne! So many levels of relatability especially as we age, me more so than you lol...I see an end date ( hoping it won't be soon). I'm not a young lady anymore, as you are. We just hope it's swift...well done-

  • 3 years ago

    by Brenda

    This is so cool Mary Anne! So many levels of relatability especially as we age, me more so than you lol...I see an end date ( hoping it won't be soon). I'm not a young lady anymore, as you are. We just hope it's swift...well done-

  • 3 years ago

    by Keira Pickard

    Point one : this poem is so good.
    Point two: so is Aurora, lol

    On the serious side, I thought this was movingly dark. The end line just felt like the necessary perfect ending - a bit like the final piece of a jigsaw puzzle. I loved the imagery. In your poems, it's always so vivid! I think you should write a senryu/ syntuit/ haiku, because you always use the title so well.
    One thing though : when you say about ' crow's feet' , should there be the apostrophe after the 's', if you're indicating more than one? Since it's not plural already. I'm terrible with the details of grammar, so don't quote me on that!
    Anyway, you pushed me to tears on this one. Very, very emotionally written.

    • 3 years ago

      by Poet on the Piano

      Keira, thank you so much for your insight! I'm not sure if we've talked about Aurora before, but yes, she is amazing. I've been listening to her for years and still can't believe some of the songs she wrote as a teenager and her incredible presence in her music. Also, I'll double check about the "crow's feet", appreciate that!

People Who Liked This Also Liked