The river creaks like old floorboards,
but I don’t walk on water,
I stumble down the waves
to where you are asleep,
My shoelaces and your forgiveness
untie me.
Dredged from silt, I play the bones,
my body’s voice now soft and muddy.
You listen, my wind-chime nerves
flicker where we watch the trawlers,
those steel-toed ship of dreams.
You touch my driftwood skin,
Your eyes push back the tide.
I will sink or swim.
Hmm, a day at the beach or a watery grave? I’ll take The Maritimes for a thousand, Alex.
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Hahahaha. Jeopardy there for certain.
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Just a fine poem, qbit. The atmosphere is very dreamlike, yet it is full of softly spoken truths. I especially like the opening couplet, and the wind-chime nerves, not to mention the strong and resonant close. Driftwood skin; that’s extremely evocative, and gives that floaty feeling of being suspended on the rippling surface of a different reality that pervades this piece. Excellent writing.
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Thank you. You always give such a terrific read.
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Wow! Stunning. The continuity of imagery is superb. I love the steel-toed ship of dreams. and “my shoelaces and your forgiveness untie me”. Wow!
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Thank you so very much.
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I really like this. Great extended metaphor. I hope it’s swim not sink!
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Hahaha! Yes
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Very dreamlike poem packed with truthful imagery and you my friend, are an excellent and super talented poet and writer. Love this a lot. 🙂
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