they look hollow,
the sockets where the eyes
once were,
or is it the looker
who is hollow?
*
map of the skull—
all the places her dust has been,
all the places it will go
*
it is months
before he can tell her
that her skull is creepy,
that it scares him—
he hides it behind the books
*
across the brow,
a forever stamp,
a lotus, full bloom—
shhhh, don’t tell her
it’s already been canceled
*
golden wings in the back
of her skull,
is it any wonder
every morning
her thoughts fly east?
*
there are monks
who use skulls as a centerpiece—
perhaps as a symbol
of mortality, perhaps
because it’s lovely
*
there’s a red leaf
where her mouth would be—
here hung those lips
that loved
to kiss*
*
all around the skull on the table
are the skulls of the living,
so much shedding left to be done
*
behind the birding book
she finds the skull,
puts it on the table again
*”Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft,” in Hamlet, William Shakespeare
I’ve nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award! You can pick it up at https://danicapiche.wordpress.com/2016/11/13/the-mystery-blogger-award/
If you’re unable to participate please accept this as a gesture of my appreciation. 🙂
Danica, Thank you for the nomination. I am not able to participate, but I am honored to be nominated by you! Keep up the good work on your own fabulous blog! r
Watch my TEDx talk The Art of Changing Metaphors: TEDX Rosemerry Trommer
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer 970-729-1838 wordwoman.com
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 5:47 PM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Still Life with Skull”
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My…this is a strange one. Touch the bone…remember
yes, I guess it is a bit strange. Yesterday I was co-teaching a class with artist Meredith Nemerov called “Possessed: The Art of Objects.” One of the exercises we did was to write a poem in many parts looking at a single object, ala Stevens, “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.” I had chosen a skull as my object, a paper mache one that I had decorated last summer with a map, wings, leaves, a forever stamp …
Anyway, perhaps it is because my birthday is Day of the Dead I have an affinity for skulls, for cemeteries, for the ways which the mystery of death compliments the mystery of living. The older I get, the stronger my affinity …
Oh…I do understand! My birthday is Nov 1st. It’s a fine poem. Like a novella. My favorite stanza being…”there’s a red leaf where her mouth would be…” It sinks keenly into the bones. Poignant without even having to shed skin. I much enjoyed this!
happy recent birthday! That stanza is an echo of Hamlet “Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft² Hmmm. I am wondering now if it is not well enough known to quote it there without attributing it might re-write it to include the bard
Watch my TEDx talk The Art of Changing Metaphors: TEDX Rosemerry Trommer
Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer 970-729-1838 wordwoman.com
From: “comment-reply@wordpress.com” Reply-To: Date: Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 6:48 PM To: Rosemerry Trommer Subject: [A Hundred Falling Veils] Comment: “Still Life with Skull”
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