Departure
This was actually written for three prompts: Poefusion’s Title Tuesday (“Stung by the Splendor of Sudden Black”), Writer’s Island (“Farewell”), and Simply Snickers (use the words “standing” and “still”). I wrote this entirely in American Sentences. Enjoy.
-Nicole
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Stung by the splendor of sudden black, I failed to
bid farewell to you. Nothingness erased the
last still frame where you stood and painted it
black. I called your name, but Silence devoured my
cries into its belly. An obsidian wall separated life
and death – and therefore, us.
Shocked by the brilliance of sudden light, I froze
in my own still frame. Light erased Nothingness
from my view with a sudden, tender violence. The air
sang out my name in sonic colors silent to earthly
ears. The wall was now a two-way mirror through
which I saw you, standing still.
Slapped by the shock of sudden death, I winced,
my soul smarting from the pain. Pain vibrated in
contrast to the rainbow song and unearthly light.
My unsaid farewell to you caught in my throat and
held the pain inside. I looked through the mirror
and saw you, weeping, demanding my return.
Chained by the weight of sudden regret, I screamed
your name into the air. The song and the light absorbed
the pain which poured out of my soul. The unsaid
farewell followed, floating through the mirror to
you below. I lingered upon your image one last time
before walking away.
Written 7/15/08
© 2008 Nicole Nicholson. All Rights Reserved.
Ooh this is so tender and full of remorse for a loved one. Farewells are so difficult, I think. In some ways I would like to think if we didn’t say goodbye that we could hold some piece of our loved one close- as if they were still here with us. Letting go is never easy but, you’ve done well here inside your poem. Have a nice day.
I know how it feels to walk away from someone you love so dearly. It fucking hurts.
This really hit me!
“I called your name, but Silence devoured my
cries into its belly. An obsidian wall separated life
and death – and therefore, us.”
That is exactly what death is like. Someone who has always been there, suddenly cut off.
Beautifully written! I hope I can eventually write this well!
nicole
love the last line–they either make it or break it–you win in this one
Thank you, everyone.
-Nicole
I found myself at the Viet Nam Memorial when I read this poem. I think your emotions are what the artist was trying to capture. Thank you.
Pam, I never thought of that interpretation, but it does work…after all, isn’t the Vietnam memorial an obsidian colored wall?
-Nicole
Really liked how you slightly shifted the stage focus down at the beginning of each stanza. Quite an intriguing poem!
This is so well said . . . . your words evoke all the sensations of such a moment.
Thanks for participating at SIMPLY SNICKERS this week.
I invite you to visit another new writing site as well:MEME EXPRESS – daily blog prompts
Would love you have you along! (Participants are added to the blogroll too.)
Blessings,
Linda
Thank you, Gemma and Linda…
I think it’s a bit of a stretch to try to imagine what the moments after one’s passing are like…what do we really see? Where do we really go? I think the hardest thing would be suddenly being separated from loved ones.
-Nicole
Yor pieces are always so powerful.
When my mother died in March this year, I felt like I was slapped by the shock of sudden death but at the same time, I felt a mix of relief and regret. She had suffered a severe stroke and lingered in hospital for 11 days. Even though I expected her to pass, I was still struck in shock.
Your poem speaks volumes to me Nicole. Thank you for writing it.
And thank you for visiting my livejournal and leaving a comment on Waiting for Daylight
-Bev
Thank you, Bev and Angel.
-Nicole