Lying on the bed
View of green
Heaven
Grandma lay
Rotting
Cells killing cells killing skin
Yellow
Eyes cloudy eyes like
Granite
Sit next to me
Here, on the bed
Fearful
Weight on the blanket
Fearful
Might break
Fearful
Might…
Fearful
Promise me
Hands of bone of
Glass
Hands
Green
Promise me you will never stop writing
Promise
Promise you will always remember
Promise
I Promise
*
Copyright© 2007 Mark B. Papale All rights reserved
Those B&W pictures are very nostalgic. And the words gush out…
what an excellent depiction of the feeling we get as children when faced with the wasting of old age… this was lovely mark….
This is wonderful, sir!
It seems you are as adroit at verse as your are at prose. Marvelous.
This one was a good and riveting batch of lines for me.
You have a way with words this is a very good piece.
Good morning, Gautami, Paisley, Lord Likely Mary T and Jadey. This was an experiment for me, thanks for your kind support. I appreciate it.
Such a beautiful promise, the pictures bring so much warmth and the poetry is so very touching. Thank you.
Very well done in both content and form. That’s what I’d call a deep dive. No need to be kind.
Thanks UL and Richard for commenting. It was fun stepping out of my ‘prose zone.’
Moving words carved in memory. An excellent piece which will resonate with many.
Interesting line breaks - they are like little exhaled breaths…
Tumblewords - Pauline - Thank you. I am so glad you came by.
Oh Mark, my friend!
You should continue with this creative side of you as well. There’s a part of our brain that is sometimes unique to ourselves; you’ve laid bare that facet of yourself to us and for that I thank you.
It’s beautiful.
~ Swan
Thanks, Swan! I’m glad you enjoyed this.
How very striking and provocative… I enjoyed this.
Hi Rob - thanks for the comment and above all, thanks for Writer’s island!
Amazing…beautifully laced, wonderfully paced and stretched set of words! Perfect.
Hi Jodi - I’m happy you enjoyed this - thank you.
I can smell death as I read this piece. The image of this dying old woman, frail and rotting, shouldn’t have scared me but it did. I found her imposing and threatening. I think it was the way the words were repeated as if they were ideas being insisted upon. Very moving.
Been there…lots of times- you captured it perfectly.
But what a thing to capture
amm
Hi Liz - thanks for coming back and commenting - I appreciate it.
Anita Marie - same to you - appreciate it.
Great use of line-breaks and strong imagery. Excellent.
Thanks, Alina. I appreciate your stopping in.
Mark, this is absolutely beautiful. You’ve told me the history behind this story and I commend you on publishing such an important piece! It’s always a pleasure to read your work. Your lyrical talent conjures such a high level of emotion in me….I’m either awestruck or horror filled, or in this case, getting teary eyed. Not a lot of authors do that for me; you are one of the select few with a true gift. As the story said….keep writing. Never stop. You are an inspiration to us all.
Sir, it has been a while since you posted this fine verse…when shall you be unleashing further treats upon us all?
Hi Lord, I will be posting tomorrow - My servants have been on strike - complaining about wanting to be paid or something… I am overdue in checking on on you as well!