A Siren's Elegy

Like snow stuck to a tongue,

words clutter my mouth,

stuttering, choking on ice.

My vision fixed on a steep drop to

a pebble stone beach

and a dismal view of the sea.

Decades I’ve been frozen in place

on a pedestal with a plaque

in front that reads:

“Canis lupus, last of its kind”

 

Each night I cry out

to the salty wind.

My silent howl

haunts no one but seafarers

far, far from home.

The wispy song pierces their ears,

brings a tear to their wind-struck eyes.

 

I paw for the edge of my overhang,

but my insubstantial motions

leave me riveted

to my marble base.

The taste of sweet

Gravity

is on my tongue.

 

Some days I pine to be swiveled,

to face the timberland

I came from, and return

to familiar hunting grounds.

But as the weather wears

away at my inscription,

I face ever sea-ward

hoping for a familiar vessel

or a tempest

carrying some large object

to free me from my shackles.

Author's Note

This poem is very symbolic and experimental to me. The meaning of this poem is not quite cemented to me, but I know the origins of the symbols. I want to know how this poem makes you feel and what each of the symbols and metaphors mean to you personally. Please be honest, especially if you don't like it. Please give reasons though!

Reviews

[Arial, Black]

Very nice with a sad, longing undertone. It's so very image-rich, and you used some great words like riveted and swiveled, very visual. There's definitely a feeling of being anchored and weighted, unable to move. I really like the last lines, waiting for a tempest carrying a large object, presumably to knock him loose and free him. A really excellent work :)

[AK]

Wonderful piece! I really liked it. I would like to inform you that it has reached the top three finalists in the Imagery. Ah! Contest and the voting has been opened. You might want to check it out..

[blakjassy]

This is a very well executed piece of writing, whether the reader wants to find abstract meaning or take it literally, they will find pleasure in reading this.

Funnily enough I have sometimes felt sadness at the nature of the static displays of stuffed and mounted creatures at my local museum.. This poem put that feeling into words so very well!

[Rachael]

Beautifully written, almost upsetting to read (in a good way, of course). Perhaps the line breaks come at odd times that makes it a bit awkward to read, but that could just be me. Well done!

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

to me this conveyed loneliness and longing I liked it