Cicada 8:33

Yellow crashes against this

Window, shining light

On my sickly white walls.

 

The weighty anvil descends on me

And traps my fevered body as

Its iron cools and crushes my whimpering bones.

 

This is my afterlife, immortal but immobile.

I desire nothing more than a cracked rib

And snacks now and then.

 

But I wish the insects would leave me be.

They circle my bed like chanting savages,

Flashing their fangs and beating winged drums.

 

Their nauseous hum seeps inside my thoughts

As I shake my vomit-filled head,

Desperate to escape.

 

Bleeding ears and burning body

Remind me of demons past,

Scraping their way up my throat.

 

I am but a humbly pure shell,

Nothing more, perhaps less,

Sentenced to sleep in an oven.

Author's Note

Reviews would be appreciated :)

Reviews

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Sleep deprivation in stifling summer heat overlain with the incessant and pervasive sound of the Cicada and the flying insects which taunt us. There are too many good lines in this poem to call them all out.

[Ethan]

Wow thank you so much John

[wordman]

a sad and touching write ethan

[Najam Us Saher]

Heart wrenching...very sad situation.

[Ethan]

Thank you very much

[Najam Us Saher]

You're welcome.

[Davidgeo]

Is this relating being paralyzed to the lifecycle of a cicada? Or just about the cicada...?

Have you ever heard of an organization named Cicada 3301? It's, weird... look them up, try and solve a puzzle.

[Ethan]

More the shelled state of the cicada's life. And yes, it is weird.

[Davidgeo]

Cicada 3301... so you've heard of it then? Or are you just placating me with a general response?

[Ethan]

Yes I have heard of it, I was saying it is weird. I found it when I was looking up cicadas.

[Davidgeo]

It is an odd thing. The puzzles are difficult to be sure. Watch a relatively older move called "the game", it's got a similar weirdness to it but in a different context.

[Ethan]

Do you mean movie? When was it made?

[Davidgeo]

The f**k you think I meant? 1997.

[Davidgeo]

Oh.. I typoed "move"... you totally knew what I meant... you just wanted to sound superior. D bag.

[Davidgeo]

Whoops... I forgot about the sensitivity trend among the youth today... So to be clear, I was just busting your balls, I don't really think you're that pretentious.

[Davidgeo]

(is joke... yeah?)

[Ethan]

Nah I wasn't sure if you were talking ab a puzzle. I was just making sure lol. Also, this movie has some of my favorite actors in it. I'll definitely check it out, thanks.

[Ethan]

Oh ok yeah I gotcha xD

[Davidgeo]

I'm good at the abrasive part... but my jokes tend to suck and seem too literal. I will never be a comedian, maybe just a joker.

[Ethan]

Eh, who knows. You're probably funnier than a lot of comedians.

[Davidgeo]

Umm... it's not at all hard to know if your looking. You're very young aren't you? High school? You assume too much for no objective reason... but I don't mind, hubris is something almost every young musician struggles with. I hate to say it but, you are extremely stereotypical.

[Ethan]

Well thank you very much :)

[Raven Moonchild]

Your imagination never ceases to amaze me, Ethan. :D This is spectacular!!!!!! (applauds)

[Ethan]

Thanks Raven :)

[Sammie Sanchez]

well this piece is very vivid, i specifcally liked the part about the bugs, i am unsure why i just like it. So good work c:

[Ethan]

Thank you :))

[Zoya]

Oh my...considering myself to be quite entomophobic...this reads like a nightmare. Quite sinister...lol. Nonetheless, you presented it in a real good way. Well done!

[Ethan]

Haha thank you

[Mr.Writer]

Another adventure filled, emotional and fantastic piece Ethan!
It shows how someone would be or react when in this situation and provides imagery as well for the readers to visualise on!
Well done, keep it up!!

[Ethan]

Thank you very much

[Mr.Writer]

No problem :)