Angels and devils the size of rats toss in tantrums on my shoulders.
My ears haul their hectoring weight.
Impositions are poured into each curled socket:
“Only $29.95 a month for the rest of your life.”
*
To prize a purse, kneel under a steady album.
To look forward to a future full of souvenirs.
When you’re gone, what will become of that giant foam finger?
A child will stand on the table screaming, waving it on a tiny fist.
*
I can’t remember the list of chores but the tomatoes are needy and the fern whines.
Why can’t we live like the ants and slowly chew one giant potato chip?
The constant clamor of wither and bud makes my skull throb.
A hornet is trapped under the table and birds fight at the margins of my hair.
* * *
This is what I have to offer this week for Read Write Poem Prompt #77.
35 responses so far ↓
jillypoet // June 5, 2009 at 6:41 pm |
What language you have here! Such awesome images and combinations of words.
The feeling I am left with is the ennui of domestic life…or maybe that’s me projecting. I could use “The constant clamor of withr and bud makes my skull throb” as my facebook quote. Or maybe a tattoo.
lawrence gladeview // June 5, 2009 at 7:18 pm |
nathan these three epigrams have a consistent flow and transition from one to the next. Line 3 of epigram 2 a favorite line. the creative aspect of this prompt is dynamic and exciting to read.
[Thank you Lawrence. I didn't mean to skip replying to your comment -- it was in my spam filter for a while. Sorry. -- Nathan]
nathan // June 5, 2009 at 7:54 pm |
Thanks Jill!
My skull is throbbing even as I’m typing this.
angie // June 6, 2009 at 12:34 am |
I thought I was an ant and it was just one chip, then I realized–alas–that my thorax isn’t segmented and I had actually eaten the entire bag.
(I like your epigrams, btw.)
Paul Oakley // June 6, 2009 at 5:57 am |
When you’re gone, what will become of that giant foam finger?
What indeed? These problems shout across the dark alley and interrupt my sleep. Sometimes I get up and read Kant until I can’t. Sometimes I roll over in my sleep, smothering Piglet where it lies.
I’m still puzzling over a couple of your lines, but the mood sure grabbed me.
gautami tripathy // June 6, 2009 at 7:47 am |
This pounded at my head waking me up from my stupor.
nathan // June 6, 2009 at 10:47 am |
Angie, what do you mean your thorax isn’t segmented? Next you’ll be telling me you don’t have antennae.
nathan // June 6, 2009 at 10:56 am |
Paul, now I feel sorry for Piglet.
Don’t puzzle too hard. Have you read “Critique of Judgment?” Now that’s an enigma.
nathan // June 6, 2009 at 10:59 am |
Gautami, that’s a good thing, right?
Phil Thrift // June 6, 2009 at 2:51 pm |
This poem’s so true: So much withering and budding, I can’t keep up. Being hectored by angel and devil rats. I hunger for simplicity.
Michelle Johnson // June 6, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
Excellent work Nathan. Some strong images playing here that only a master could conjure. Well done. Have a great day.
nathan // June 6, 2009 at 4:16 pm |
Phil, I’m hoping simplicity will just happen — like catching a cold.
nathan // June 6, 2009 at 4:17 pm |
Wow, thanks Michelle. You have a great day too.
Dana // June 7, 2009 at 5:07 pm |
Hi hi hi!
This is strange. You have two lines here that are exactly what I’ve been wondering about the past two days.
At the airport yesterday, I saw someone walking around with one of those foam fingers. I wondered, what the hell? Why do people insist on buying shit like that — things we know we don’t need, won’t use or at least won’t use for long or in any meaningful way — and that we will throw away sooner rather than later or stuff in some closet or storage area. We just get taken over by this need to consume. Doesn’t even matter what we are consuming. We buy something, anything, just to prove we can buy the world, that it’s at our mercy because we happen to have pocket change.
And yesterday I was on a hike when I stopped to look at a gorgeous slug up close. The slug was chewing and chewing on a tiny piece of a dried leaf. Why can’t this be my life, I thought. Why can’t I sit in the shade on a wooded path and grind away at the edges of a leaf all day long? I know you are referencing an ant and a potato chip in your piece, but still. Same idea.
nathan // June 7, 2009 at 7:11 pm |
Hi Dana!
I think there’s this idea in our culture that if we’re accumulating junk it’s a sign that we’re still alive. We need signs that we’re still alive because so often it’s not clear.
I wish I could’ve seen that slug. I bet it was beautiful.
Dana // June 7, 2009 at 8:14 pm |
I tried to find a good photo online of the type of slug I saw, but slugs don’t photograph well.
It was an Arion ater, more commonly known as a black slug. Its lower body looks almost like a morel mushroom or like a very ornate and beautifully detailed crenulated gown billowing out from the body.
The black slug is my favorite slug. They actually rock from side to side sometimes when they are disturbed.
nathan // June 8, 2009 at 1:37 am |
Now you’ve really got me interested in the kinds of slugs we have in the wilds of Ohio.
I wonder what’s out there.
Laura // June 8, 2009 at 6:48 am |
I’ll be returning to these epigrams often. Nicely done.
nathan // June 8, 2009 at 11:56 am |
Thanks Laura!
Annamari // June 8, 2009 at 2:05 pm |
the image of the foam finger made a strong impression on me …very well done, indeed
nathan // June 8, 2009 at 2:47 pm |
I appreciate that, Annamari.
James // June 8, 2009 at 6:00 pm |
I really like the way you make the angels and demons concrete by comparing them to the size of rats. That word also carries a sense of annoyance. Nice. And, like previous commenters, I too like the foam finger image.
ravenswingpoetry // June 8, 2009 at 8:17 pm |
Wow. I see permanency and transience, consumerism and simplicity in this. I also like the giant foam finger image. Well done.
nathan // June 9, 2009 at 11:41 am |
Thanks for the observations, James.
nathan // June 9, 2009 at 11:41 am |
Thank you Nicole.
Carolee // June 10, 2009 at 12:05 am |
this is a personal fantasy of mine:
Why can’t we live like the ants and slowly chew one giant potato chip?
Dana // June 10, 2009 at 3:59 am |
Carolee, it’s not all fun and games for ants. They have to do lots of hard work, too. And they have to work as a team. Eew.
nathan // June 10, 2009 at 10:28 am |
Carolee, my sad reality is that I have to try to eat the whole bag of potato chips.
nathan // June 10, 2009 at 10:45 am |
Dana, ants are so cool. I was reading about how scientists think they use magnetic particles to sense direction: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/20/ant-magnet-gps.html
Deb // June 12, 2009 at 1:57 am |
Nathan, your ability to balance the absurd on the tip of a hot light bulb astounds me.
[I like slugs, too. And ants. (I have a photo of a NW wood snail from a couple of weeks ago on SM, but it isn't the black slug.)]
Dana // June 12, 2009 at 2:06 am |
Nathan, you are always reading the most interesting science stories.
wayne // June 14, 2009 at 1:23 am |
so true…and very good indeed
nathan // June 20, 2009 at 2:01 pm |
Thanks Deb.
nathan // June 20, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
Dana, if I didn’t read science stories I’d have nothing to talk about.
nathan // June 20, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
Thank you Wayne.