“It’s all lust and ashes”, quotes
the filthy eyed prophet
a squawking raven on swept sidewalk
panoramic vision of her purview
a lo mein domain, noodle boxes discarded
chewing old bottle caps
and spouting love songs
the lowly fool cursed
with the wisdom of gods
she tends to dance a jig
around the lunch hour
what she prances for
I do not presume to know
there is a golden bell
she keeps in breast pocket
a broken, anguished sound it makes
or at least I think so
her eyes are of the wolf
they speak of winter and
indomitable spirits
unclean wretch in antiquated suit
pandering with tricks and cards
the can at her feet has but
few dollars and coins
perhaps enough for smoke and warm meal
she scribes ancient secrets
in Sanskrit and glyph
onto the national currencies
passing on old knowings of skald and bard
to those that seek to see
she sometimes plays the trombone
and feeds the poor animals
that haunt the alleys
I have witnessed her have visions
that speak of the other side
she never shares those stories
in a civil war with her hair
silver shocked through the black
indecipherable pictographs
tattooed up and down
her arms, corded steel
that carry a strength
given only to the mad and broken-hearted
madness part of the part
she pretends to play
so that none may question
who she is or where she comes from
but I know
and I believe she knows
there is an uneasy truce
between us
I hear the voice everyday
though she rarely speaks
her words etched into the inside of my skull
echoing like a swarm of African bees
she smells of tobacco and old papers
I believe she is here to teach me
to lesson us
but we lessen, and forget how to listen
It’s all lust and ashes
she’s the litany
I still carry with me
Simply brilliant and enthralling. By the end I felt like I was the raven.
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maybe you are?
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Hmmm. . . That’s a trippy thought for my fevered brain!
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Bwahahahaha😈❤
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Reblogged this on Secret First Draft: A Site of the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective and commented:
Olde Punk gives us brilliant madness.
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Thanks!!
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Brilliant. Love.
And that civil war with her hair line, gold!!! 😊
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Thanks!!
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Excellent 😊
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Thanks Em🙏
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I read earlier and again now. This is spectacular. I love the earthiness of her, and her gift. I think there may be many ravens about.
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Thanks Mark. I think I have seen a few😉
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Brilliant.. the words and meaning.. enjoyed reading this 😍
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Thank you so much Aakriti 😊
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Brilliant. Just absolutely brilliant
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Thank you John! Really appreciate it 🙏
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I love reading your words. You take me to a different place entirely and make me feel in a way that is twistedly good for my soul.
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Thanks so much Amber, this comment made my day 🙏🖤
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