Dishes

(Hear the audio.)

Dishes

i look 
the plated carcass,
chicken breast, starchy
entrails, soaked gravy blood

take it in dishrag
in proper measure your pain
chlorine realism yellows
whites, but leaves your stains
to remember

why did i have to see you
that way
dragged out of bed
    at midday
stringy face and
broken-out hair
even leaving me
a Judas kiss
“take care”

i looked
your string was strung
out, christmas lights
out-of-season

part digested thoughts
with leftovers of you
unfinished by whatever
pill or man
last ate you

then i learned to
cry
so calmy patient
my teacher

you looked
staining me as i was wrung
and bitterly dry

Reviews

[Celeste21]

This is poignant and unique. Melancholy. Strange but fitting. Intricately lovely in a sad sort of way.

[Kerry O'Connor]

I think this is a brilliant piece of post-modern poetry - made all the more stark when spoken in your own voice. The structure and motif reminds me of the Beat poets; these lines I single out for their climactic value:

then i learned to
cry
so calmy patient
my teacher

[Suzuki Writes]

beautifully written, especially
"digested thoughts
with leftovers of you
unfinished by whatever
pill or man
last ate you "
great job!