Image: Lauren Treece
You lived for the past
Remember when you used to say
We became the family who recalls.
Your skulls you gathered around you
Clung like a limpet to each of them.
You imagined past glories
Espoused feats of bravery and skill
All living happily in your head.
Reality is easy to deny
When laced with pain
The thought of not being whom you believed.
But you braved it daily
Spun one more tale
Deceit upon deceit
Until no one was sure what was up
And what was down.
You impressed all you set out to.
They in turn sung your praises
Feasted on skeleton words
The flashing hollow smile.
Saw no reason to look past your charade.
And all the while you
Bathed in adulation
No one saw you
Add skull upon skull
Never suspecting
They were your own kind.
Written for: http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/09/02/photo-challenge-24-sleeping-with-skulls/
Oh wow Michael! One of your best!!!
Ah Yves you are so kind, thank you, great image to write to.
Thanks Michael!
An interesting and quite haunting read Michael, I agree with Yves, I think this is one of your best.
Thank you Jenny you are very kind.
You are welcome
In some ways this reminds me of my uncle (RIP). After he had a bad stroke, he constantly compared himself to the way he had been in his youth. He never could measure up to the legend. It was sad to watch him beat up on himself for being unable to.
http://hickswyliedna.blogspot.com/2014/09/in-lieu-of-flowers.html
Thank you I’m glad my words struck a chord with you. Thanks also for following my blog.
Stunning! This line in particular struck a cord with me – “We became the family who recalls.” Very well done.
Hi Laura, thanks so much for reading and your generous comment.
An excellent offering, Michael!
Thank you Gabriella. Hopefully d’verse is up this morning.
It is! Have you chosen the sketch yet?
No, I have slept in instead……something I rarely do…….so its off to dverse to see what I can do.
Sleep in is good once in a while. 🙂
So they tell me.
This was very good Michael. You are just a writing machine lately. I can hardly keep up! But you seem to be on a roll.
Words flow out and I write them down. It’s a lot of fun Jackie. Thanks s always for reading.
This is such an amazing piece Michael; the flow and, to my mind and ears, gentleness of the words, contrast with the power of the evocation of what is indeed being presented. There is an elegant grace and poise in this piece that is very strong – and haunting. Bravo!
Thank you Pat you are very kind.
Love this one!
Thank you so much Tina for dropping by. Have a good day.