Time was slow coming,
and I labored long -
drop by violet drop-
until the water clock
tipped and spilled her squalling
from my birthing squat.
Her cries brought
the first sunrise
climbing
up from between my trembling thighs
to hourglass my breasts and suckle
sand
till I withered
to ash
without ever knowing fire
or the touch
of a man.
My take on Kim's Violet prompt at Real Toads.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
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About Me
- Maude Lynn
- Anybody who has survived his childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days. ---Flannery O'Connor
19 comments:
Wow. Now there's a creation story.
Every word in this feeds back to the metaphor, making it all the more potent, all the more mysterious--and what is more mysterious than the beginnings of Time? Fine writing here, MZ.
dang...pretty vivid birthing there...the suckling hour glass turn to ash...what a vision...
... and a happy mother's day to you too!!! This is unbelievable .. and believable.
Wow from me too. Extraordinary imagery and words!
This is so surreal, it leaves me almost unable to comment. I'm very moved and shaken by this.
These sections are particularly intense and well written:
"drop by violet drop-
until the water clock
tipped and spilled her squalling
from my birthing squat"
"Her cries brought
the first sunrise
climbing"
"to hourglass my breasts"
"till I withered
to ash
without ever knowing fire
or the touch
of a man"
This hurts. It could mean many things to many different people. But to me, it speaks of sacrifice. A woman almost ceasing to exist in order that she might mother the newborn. Of course, there are metaphors in number here. But the literal birth and self-sacrifice speaks loudest to me.
The mother of time. My goodness. What a great responsibility. And at the same time, what an evil. I detest the invention, personally. So in some ways, she created a monster.
Withering to ash without ever getting to burn, whether you see that as good or bad. Never knowing the touch of a man; a virgin birth, so to speak. It's all very twisted, this creation of minutes.
This was really a unique take on birth....This is a poem which could be interpreted many ways. Enjoyed this!
Powerful writing, MZ!! I love this!
I also though that you were describing a child birth and the happiness one gets from children, but in the end it was different. loved it!!!
Oh, wow. I don't know what to say, but...consider it said.
Luv, K
Wow! I too started reading this with childbirth in mind but by the end of it, i too am veering towards creation and the beginning of time, when water was spilled squalling and her cries brought forth the first sunrise.. oooh, lovely, layered poetry
so much unsaid but i feel it...Mama Zen
This is truly amazing poetry. Mystical and mortal, everything a poem about motherhood should be.
... and this is how I imagine it was done. The laboring, six days in length. The withering return? The sabbath. One of the best pieces of writing I have read in a very, very long time. I am in awe of your talent.
I love your imaginative violet creation! Magical ;D
Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!
A wonderful imaginative and powerful poem. A perfect mother's day poem, the birth of earth...
What a birthing MZ ~ Love that her cries brought the first sunrise climbing ~ Hope you are enjoying the spring season ~
breathtaking!
♥
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