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![Profile picture of Ghosteen]()
Ghosteen wrote a new post
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Read MoreFor eighteen months before alzheimer’s shred his soul I trapped my father’s voice in the answering machine Palimpsest of tobacco teak lay over his Nottingham dialect, did Robin Hood fire similar phonemes into the deepest of oak? The familiar sibilants which once read me into other universes in...
6 Comments-
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![Profile picture of Ghosteen]()
Thank you Tim. Yip, dementia & alzheimer’s show no mercy. brutal
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![Profile picture of Green]()
I wasn’t expecting the pictures this painted with words. It was so vivid that I could feel those memories even though they weren’t my own.
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![Profile picture of Ghosteen]()
Thank you Green for the kind words.
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![Profile picture of RomaJ]()
That’s a really moving and powerful piece. The way you capture your father’s voice and the layers of memory, from the “palimpsest of tobacco teak” to the echo of his working life, is just beautiful. It really makes you feel the weight of what’s been lost and the preciousness of that preserved memory.
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![Profile picture of Ghosteen]()
Many thanks Roma. We lost our parents in the same week in separate Nursing Homes. Almost surreal.
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Styxian wrote a new post
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Read MoreToo many years wasted, life poorbecause I spent them unwisely.So quick to be a have-not,squandering a wealth of days. Befitting then, to staya silhouette, asideyour passing light.My hat in my hands;have mercy for me.Be as generous as I hope you are.May the moon that glows upon you,be a white coin, enriching my night. Someday, when I burn,when what's left of mewill be urn'dinto crack-rocks of bone,chop me, linear and longlike I always was,with a starter credit card.Pretend I wasn'tso close to worthless after all. But, I can't stop you,if you want,from laying me pronein the ground.Holding me down,with a tombstone;Come read, anytimewhat I meant to you.A love that went away,spent with quartersof the partial moon. ~ I will tell the other ghoststhat we were fantastical.You, a unicornwith your black mane, andpiercing eyes.One of a kind, thatI, the dragonleft the hollowof my mountain for. I faked fire with my words.Yet it still felt warmwhen you were cold.And with you whenI stretched in bed,arms overhead,it was the closestI ever came to flying.As your smile offeredsilent applause.Maybe that was my best-effort at rising, eclipsingthat white coin.And I can saythat I was a dragon once. ~ Tonight, still alive,I crack the window;a slot between glass and sill.The one white coin slips through,and I'll spend my portion on you.With all of your ample generosity;It's the least I can do. ~~~
14 Comments-
![Profile picture of Tim]()
I’m proud to say I’m a writer when I read poems like this. It has integrity and image. You’re a great writer, Styx.
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Well I’m glad that you continue to write in here, Tim. To me, this is a group effort for all of us to enhance our abilities.
For years, decades even, I kept my material mostly to myself. A shy writer. LOL. Yet, no, open up and give and take.
Thanks for your encouragement Tim. I do try. -
![Profile picture of Fia Naturie]()
This is sweet and has many layers to it. I do like the way you say the moon is a coin.
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Hello Fia!
I liked the idea and then I just wrote. But I had no idea where it would go or what the outcome would be. I surprise myself sometimes, with my results. I’m an audience to my own writing, if that makes sense!
Thank you for the nod, too.
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![Profile picture of RomaJ]()
This poem reads like a quiet confession beneath the moonlight. I love how the “white coin” becomes a symbol for time, memory, and love — spent, lost, and offered again. The dragon and unicorn imagery gives it a fable-like weight, while the emotions remain deeply human. It’s wistful, tender, and quietly generous in its final offering.
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Thank you for that thoroughly kind comment. I wasn’t sure what I was after, when I decided to start writing “something’. So it is sort of a mosh perhaps. The contemplations of life and love making it through it all, I suppose?
Your comment is quite generous, thank you.
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![Profile picture of Ghosteen]()
Your use of symbolism is a joy my friend.
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Everything is something…
As I age, I’m trying not to be a hoarder! LOL. Yet I like lots of random things, trinkets, etc. But I do need to thin out my stuff. I may be moving sooner rather than later.
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![Profile picture of Adelphina]()
Oh how to comment on this! It’s stunning and heartfelt.
Truly an epic write. My eyes got a little teary and my smile kept smiling throughout the whole read.
Each section took me somewhere new but the emotion carried over smoothly.What a talent you are and a blessing:)
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Well, I am definitely blessed the past few years. Finding DUP, and the many talented and electic writers, seemed to have inspired me to write more.
And then, you. Incredible fortune to have you in my life, baby. I love you.
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![Profile picture of Damian DeadLove]()
Beautifully penned, Mark. Into the book it belongs! Love the depth and layers of this one my friend, excellent storytelling per usual. Appreciate you.
Damian
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
Thank you Sir Damian. I’m surrounded by some wonderful writers in here, so I have to pull my weight yaknow! LOL
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![Profile picture of I_IS_ ME]()
Kinda like a romantic Lord Of The Ring or Game of Thrones, like this along with your word play within the piece. Tight
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![Profile picture of Styxian]()
What’s up!
I feel that too many times my endings suck. LOL. Yet I tend to ramble too long in a write as well. I’ve been working on shortening my writes lately. Hopefully it pays off.
I was definitely looking at this as a bit of a romanticism, yes. Not over done though. Sappy is softening us all. LOL
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![Profile picture of Sam Nash]()
Sam Nash wrote a new post
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Read MoreThe first time I brought the Oud to the school I was ridiculed by many of my friends. However when several other students began to be assigned their own musical instruments then the ridicule stopped. Only a few of...
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My father had dementia. I have written notes but no answering machine voice which would be really great. You’re lucky. You have some unique writing here. Glad I read this. Good one.