Lilac Coffin

Oh you'll figure it out.

 Walking through old cemeteries
        Catacombs full of dust
    Coffins blooming rotting lilacs
          Crucifixions of rust

      Finding an empty solitude
            in a survivors grave
      What was spent so long ago
         What we readily gave

   Angry ghosts rip up this house
      I don't know their names
     Parts of myself I had to kill
     Buried in unmarked graves

Looking backward walking forward
       Always one step ahead
A parade of screaming demons
      Tormented by the dead

Burning spines ride twisting cordite
    Dancing with flares and rounds
       Mutilated rotting corpses
  stomp dead feet on the ground

The ghost dance never seems to end
               always a reminder
   A world of shadows of what was
             Growing ever louder

Crawling out of my own dead skin
       Ripping tendon and bone
Dancing with my flesh uncovered
          So I can dream alone

There's beauty in the weariness
        of eternal struggle
A bittersweet dead monument
    to ebb and flow of cycle

Where we are what we become
         on for an eternal
Seeking relief from a life of lies
     Truth within a kernel

Reviews

[KAOlmsted]

I see what you mean...this is really quite a departure, Mark. I like it a lot (except for the rotting lilacs...I don't care for that :-p) We all need to shed that dead skin, though. This is a truly excellent piece. That third stanza especially. Really great work here.

[Baby Ricochet]

The line was originally "Coffins blooming purple lilacs" but once the whole decay theme was formed purple lilacs didn't work in the piece. This poem was written out of the rhyme and meter, not a set premise like say "Bully" was. Thank you for reading Blooming Coffins Kimmer. I appreciate it.

[KAOlmsted]

Always my pleasure, Baby...(and, obviously, my offense to the line is personal, not artistic; it's a powerful line. Wish they had been lilies though) ;-) xoxo

[Pax]

great work my friend... the imagery is haunting...

There's beauty in the weariness
of eternal struggle
A bittersweet dead monument
to ebb and flow of cycle

that really is beautiful... in words but the pain and experience on it by the dead is never ending unless they move on and accept....

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Mr Pax

[The Daisy]

The awareness that death is just 'round the corner must coax people to 'suck out the marrow of life' (as Thoreau said). Hm, but I have to say the last stanza kind of bugs me. Well it's true that what we make of ourselves will always be remembered by people, I think that life in its true essence isn't all deceitful. I hate to think that a lot of people believe that and so they just 'get by'.

[Baby Ricochet]

Just a bit of existential gloom. Thank you for reading Blooming Coffins Day's Eve. I appreciate your input.

[Vikrantsingh]

Marvellous work my friend :)
Loved it as always :)

Cheers!
Singh :)

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you vik

[Vikrantsingh]

You're welcome :)

[Eddie Phillips]

I have two word for this poem: Illuminating Impressions! You wrote a poem that left such vivid description. I enjoyed the poem. It is different and pulls you in until the end. Great job brother!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Eddie

[Frieda P]

You imagery is spot on Mark, old wounds & voices from the past it seems, yet life still moves forward.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Frieda

[Pete Langley]

The hard part to bear - of life for the living - is the death of others, no matter who they are, especially for those who have been a dutiful implement in it. But all of mankind has to share this burden, not individuals. Our attributes have to outshine our faults to shed that dead skin. You`ve produced the most insightful of verse here, Mark. P.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Pete

[Cassie]

Very very nice. Thank you for putting it together

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Cassie

[Blue Ivory]

Yes, walking through cemeteries make the memories flood back. Any kind of cemetery. I like what you did here. I love the symbolism.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Siren

[Zelle]

it z dynamic! i loved it!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Zelle

[Mary Christabel George]

Baby...
This is the first time I am reading on the subject of death, coffin & cemeteries.
You really made be in one.
This was really a beautiful piece.
The rhyming never seemed forced but perfect combination.
All together it was great.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Mary