Humble Company

 

 

Any relic of the dead is precious, if they were valued living.

-Emily Bronte

 

If a soft light fell on my desk with the humble company of a poem

I could claim a peace of mind

And beautiful friends who stuck their heads in ovens

And starved until the next season in a window-ridden asylum

Humid pale and unborn    

 

I know they thumbed their existence with typewritten fingers,

A restless grace similar to a drunken shiver,

And I should let lie what is gone and dead

 

But I feel them in my bones

Reviews

[Michael Kevin Spencer]

Yes the influence of minds on other minds, it' s quite delightful really. But you have to wonder, their is a certain perversity of their legacy, the suicide martyrs, the dramatic types who let mental illness creep in.

To imitate that would be silly right? Nice to see you around Haley.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

my god, i could imagine anne sexton writing this poem about sylvia plath...

and she left a poem or two on the desk, as the light faded from her life.

really wonderful phrasing in this.

i feel other poets in my bones....from what they have us...

and the inspiration makes our poetic bones stronger.

[Stammers]

That first line is especially 'right'. You'll know what I mean by that.

[Chris]

I like hearing your voice...

[Jack...]

Wow, I loved the feel and texture of this poem. It seemed so serene yet echoed through the halls. It is funny to think how we will be thought of even as our own minds dance around the truth.

[Muse]

The legacy of a poet. The mind that was "shared" will live on forever. The silent ones will be forgotten.

Your topic of choice intrigued me...mixing morbidity with beauty.

And beautiful friends who stuck their heads in ovens

And starved until the next season in a window-ridden asylum

Humid pale and unborn




I simply adore this!

[An owl on the moon]

What an emotionally stirring glimpse into the heart and soul of poets and poems... the minds of those edged on madness and magic... the aching that comes from truly living... So powerful.

[writing mojo]

nice ode to the mad greats with words which cut visceral images from the tortured torrid soul trying to escape...great poem

[Hayley]

thank you!

[MOON]

Beautifully penned , lovely sentiments

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

The influence of so many dead live on through the written word, being in print is like being immortal...wonderful writing, I don't know how anyone would ever forget you.

[Clockwork]

Did I catch a reference to the way Plath ended her life in this poem? I suppose that inspiration does work this way. When we go into that creative space, we become closer to those who wrote before us, and we really do feel them there with us. Although, I don't think that makes our work any less important. Everyone has start somewhere.