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a coward's request
strands of spiderweb glistened on blue moonlight
dews sparkled by the marble road
he danced carelessly on the skin of unstable ice,
warmed by yesterday's hepatitis-stricken sun.
one strong foot hanging over a high gorge,
the weaker one stood on thin glass
his fate dangles by a thread acrophobic,
like a coin standing kept upright by blind luck.
death grips the wrist like a cold chain,
and the temptress breathes too close to the ear.
having gambled away all his tomorrows,
in the corner, he waits for the world to close
across the room sits the anointed collector
eyeing what little left he's got to lose.
the debt collector's hand holds a long list
of every debt running still unpaid,
14 years of interest piled up waist-high
the debt collector has his death warrant
but his hand holds a shard of broken glass.
Comments
Geezer
Tue, 2023-03-07 09:47
This sounds...
as though one is about to unleash a fury
and is weighing the consequences of such an assault.
In other words, those who live in glass houses
shouldn't throw rocks. especially big, heavy ones.
After reading your piece, I understand the title,
but it isn't one that would draw me in.
You might fix that by adding one little word! [In].
It probably doesn't matter that your enemies don't read poetry,
you didn't intend to warn them anyway. Good luck with your quest of vengeance. ~ Geezer.
.
There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.
Celso G. Tertins
Tue, 2023-03-07 14:30
yes, 2023 is a placeholder
yes, 2023 is a placeholder while i think of a more suitable title.
Geezer
Sun, 2023-03-12 10:20
Congratulations on...
your win! ~ Geezer.
.
There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.
Lavender
Tue, 2023-03-07 19:20
a coward's request
Hi, Celso,
A sense of throwing in the towel, no solutions, past despair. I very much like your new title, and the way it emphasizes your final stanza.
Thank you,
L
Celso G. Tertins
Sat, 2023-03-11 00:16
thank you L. i am glad you
thank you L. i am glad you liked it.
Lavender
Sun, 2023-03-12 10:46
Hello and...
congratulations!
L
Rosewood Apothecary
Wed, 2023-03-08 05:17
I’m not sure if everyone knows
When you have liver disease you’ll appear jaundice which is yellowing of the whites of the eyes and the skin pigmentation is orange. From the bilirubin. That’s some knowledge right there and I really enjoyed reading that line.
This reminds me of an anxiety ridden sleepless night. Pondering some actions taken and aware of the foreboding future. Great job laying tension in there.
Tim
Celso G. Tertins
Sat, 2023-03-11 00:16
thank you very much tim. the
thank you very much tim. the first time i saw someone with that disease stuck me deeply.
Seren
Sat, 2023-03-11 23:40
Congratulations your win in
Congratulations your win in the contest with a fine poem.
I have Gilbert's syndrome it's a genetic disorder and it isn't life-threatening but it is a nuisance with regards to the medication I have to take and other factors with bring ill. I was diagnosed when I was in my early twenties but had it from birth unknowingly. I can become jaundiced from just bring stressed. I'm actually yellow atm as I'm in hospital. Sorry to overshare but your hepatitis-steicken sun line stuck out to me.
Congrats again on your win ...
Kind regards Seren
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats
Celso G. Tertins
Tue, 2023-03-14 11:41
thank you for sharing seren.
thank you for sharing seren. mich appreciated. i hope you are doing well.
Candlewitch
Tue, 2023-03-21 06:02
hello,
congratulations!
*hugs, Cat
*
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