Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Hidden Bodies



When I was young,
I buried the memories 
in deep trenches,
the better to not think 
about them.

Now I am old,
and, like rotting corpses
along the riverbank,
they keep popping up
at inconvenient moments,
when the Memory Police
are strolling by,
quick to point out
the error of my ways.

I have moved 33 times,
like a vagabond.
My roof stayed true: 
blue bowl of sky,
the old growth forest,
my greenly walls.
The ocean breeze
sings my homecoming song,
counterpoint provided by
ravens.

My roots have always been 
lightly planted,
to uncomplicate
the leaping forward.
In such loose soil,
it's no surprise
the occasional 
severed  appendage
may appear.


for Rommy's prompt at Real Toads  on the third day of April: to write something inspired by "No Roots", sung by Alice Merton.

22 comments:

  1. Love your loose roots... I feel myself being more and more rooted....

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  2. Sometimes old trees, have shallow roots. Perhaps we are trying to live lightly...when the time comes, we will simply float away. Good Job!!! I see the muse did come to visit!

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  3. 33 times. Wow! Also, I love the idea of memories popping up like corpses at inopportune moments.

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  4. Wow! Sherry! This is an instant favourite of mine. I am having trouble picking my best poem of the day but yours is edging out the competition. Fabulous. Maybe it's my fear of resurfacing memories that brings this so close to home.

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  5. Wow, does this ever resonate with me! Approaching 77, my memories are intact thankfully.

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  6. A soul should be happy (happiest!) when dancing in soil that allows (even invites) the leap...

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  7. I have moved 33 times,
    like a vagabond.
    My roof stayed true:
    blue bowl of sky, -

    ahhhhh, that line, these lines, but that line "blue bowl of sky" - what a cradle/roof to under which to shelter and be held!

    And the closing stanza is SO perfect - to uncomplicate the leaping forward in loose soil, and appearances of severed appendages! Gah! Gorgeous! oh my, this is so layered with intensity, emotions, and yet a deeply hidden stream of acceptance in the understanding of "the roots of you" -
    what an amazing poem Sherry!
    🍃Pat

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  8. This is gorgeous Sherry. I haven't moved nearly as many times, but can certainly identify with your premise. So glad you wrote it. High five, lady...

    Elizabeth

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  9. Thoughts of severed appendages make me cringe...you knocked this one out of the park, Sherry!

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  10. This is incredibly potent, Sherry!💜

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  11. I like this, Sherry. There are things we'd rather forget but 'memory' has a trick of getting us back. Not sure if this is you, moving 33 times, or your muse pulling that out of hats. If true for you, we are about tied. Way back in the military when I was to get a security clearance I had to list all the places I had lived. Even then I needed two extra sheets of paper to finish the list.
    ..

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    Replies
    1. Yep, 33 moves, not counting some shorter temporary stints....lol....rolling stones......

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  12. A wonderful poem Sherry, and we can see so clearly the craft that holds the memories intact. Poetry offers a roof along with the blue bowl of sky... that’s you in the picture?
    (P.s. how was I not following you? I used to... must have gone awol along the way) xxx

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  13. My roots have always been
    lightly planted,
    to uncomplicate
    the leaping forward.

    Yes, Sherry, one need not be too rigid in deciding on certain things

    Hank

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  14. I love, love the idea of constantly moving yet always under the same sky. This was a delight to read.

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  15. Yes. "Now I am old,
    and, like rotting corpses
    along the riverbank,
    they keep popping up" Wow. yes. That's perfectly true. You speak for many of us, I believe.

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  16. Darn memory police! I hate it when those rotting corpses float to the surface.

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  17. Talk about unexpected images! Those rotting corpses took me aback. This was most excellent to read.

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  18. Oh my Sherry...you just get better with each word. Wonderful this.

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  19. You are a gypsy Sherry....33 times.. I am not going to depress you by telling you how much this would have cost.Just as well you drive a pantechnicon:)

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