The Suitcase

a metaphorical poem about the adventure of knowledge and life itself

I went to sea with an iron suitcase

locked with a cipher on the last day ashore

I kept in it an apple a newspaper a pretzel

it was so heavy on my left shoulder

I was carrying a leather bag in my right hand

stuffed with clothes in the last twenty years

 

when waters raised over portholes

I opened the heavy suitcase nibbling my pretzel

making small ships from newspaper pages

I was wearing a white dress from my youth

admiring the brightly shining red apple

but they repaired our vessel

 

when the second accident occurred

I tore to pieces the whole newspaper

reading it leaf after leaf

I had gray hair wearing a dark black dress

 

in the end only the apple was left there

from time to time I checked its color still fresh

feeling a deep sting in my left shoulder

I couldn’t bear anymore the iron suitcase

dressed now in a pink gown like peach blossoms

I was not hungry I didn’t want to throw away the fruit

my heart opposed to give it away

 

I placed it again in that suitcase

calling a child from the deck

asking him to lock it without telling me the cipher

then I threw it in the depths

 

at night a stifled fire was burning

under my eyelids and my temples

I looked once more at the stars

falling asleep much easier

Reviews

[n8adamczak]

Amazing, i had to reread this many times. I'm struggling with the meaning of the changing of clothes, but that makes this that much more intriguing.

[Cristina Moldoveanu]

Thank you very much, I am honored by your visit.