Rome, once, was also in ruins

In memory you are
eyes and teeth. Briefcase,
plaid shirt,
typewriter.

In memory you are
the runged chair
I rest my feet on, roiling
you in anger. In memory you are
soft as feathers

of snow--a mouth
expansive as the overheard
sky waiting to eat
my head. That way

it teeters in weakness. That
way my jaw moves
when you want it
to be still. That way

my skull holds
in spite of your tongue
lashing the air

with those syllables:
“I'll bash your f*****g head in.”
Night rings

the bells of your different selves
over silence. A gentleness
like the hand of God

reaching into dirt
to shape a heart
into something potential
ly beautiful. Or. A glint
of silver in the moonlight. The

cold-c**k of a pistol
after midnight. The fire
of stars hitting your teeth
as they take on the room.

Author's Note

2014

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

this verse is a slow-boil that takes on some unexpected and disturbing twists. there is a lot of tension, and it reads like a thriller. it begins with "In memory..." and so these events have passed and are presumably over. but as the narrative is slowly revealed, getting darker and darker, more and more violent, it becomes apparent that it is not merely a memory but something that still haunts the persona in the present. very sharply written, full of spine-tingling moments. yet there are no cheap shocks, rather a kind of honesty; a truthfulness. there is a type of terrorism present in the world that doesn't make the news. it is too banal for TV, yet it is a nightmare to live through. and such survivors of these criminal acts are everywhere.

the title is also intriguing. the mention of Rome indicates some kind of political message. as if civilisations can collapse if not taken care of. our society is also suffering from deep neglect. or perhaps it is in reference to a personal golden age? my life was once great, but now lie in ruins due to attack from barbarians. it is a cryptic title, one that provokes multiple thoughts in me.

as always, your writing is spot on. there is vibrance and energy in these words and the way it is structured was flawless. a heavy topic for sure, but written in a pristine way.

[Eilis]

Thanks very much, Ern. You read and review like a skilled and dedicated reader, and your analyses are always insightful. I appreciate your thoughts on my poems. You are right that there are people everywhere living under the tyranny of these kinds of memories. Writing has helped me a lot to take them from memory to something a bit more separate. That’s a great thing about this art. The title is maybe too personal. As you note it adds a political context which makes sense because everything feels political in these days. It’s mostly symbolic of how things (people) can be seemingly destroyed but rise to live and thrive again. It’s a sort of mantra to myself that the past is not necessarily a predictor of the future. Maybe it’s too cerebral. I will think about it. I appreciate your notes on that part. Always appreciate your thoughts. Thanks again.

[Robert Trakofler]

there once was a dream called Rome, and like all fine things it started with a set of ideals and yet over time those ideals got set aside in the name of power and control:( Soon those ideals were nothing but a whisper and the reality that we have become the victims of totalitarian wrath just free enough to maintain the illusion that we are acting of our own volition but in truth we have become mere pawns in a game of tyranny. This is what I saw in these lines this morning as I am half way down my first cup of coffee dear Eilis:)

[Eilis]

Hi, Robert. I always enjoy your point of view. I like your interpretation. I think many things begin in high ideals but when reality strikes and things don’t go to plan emotions and actions begin to unravel. That works for personal relationships as much as governing bodies. It’s a compelling concept. I hope you’re doing well and having a good holiday season. Thank you for visiting today.