The Dig

The Dig

A Poem by Crowley

The dig
I excavated in short quick bursts
Gasping for the next breath
Only enough to survive for the next three inches
Knees skinned, hands blistered, heart full
Keep digging
If I could make it, go deep enough, oh Lord
I was sure that my find would fascinate, tempt
Like that first word from a delicate mouth
You made me an island that day with a mere utterance
Hello
My tools were dreadfully inadequate
My patience insufferably thin
My battered fingers, slaves, pulling at buckets full of misplaced hope
I stand in sharp contrast to the man I wish I was
Blinding confidence
You touched my foot that day, calling me from the darkness
“Are you looking for this?”
In your hand, a steel heart scribed with my fallibilities
I stared and you smiled
Oh God
“It is your heart I’m trying to find again.”
I reached for the heart and she pulled it toward her breast
That look, the one decorated with experience and familiarity, soothed
I knew then, I had been digging in the wrong place


Corey Rowley
Copyright 2022

© 2022 Crowley


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Reviews

I hear the voice of Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Dory saying, "Just keep digging, just keep digging..." Do we ever reach the bedrock of the heart? Can we ever really know or be known? We play hide and seek with intention and expectation, sometimes found, sometimes poster children for milk cartons, missing. Great write, I enjoyed the read. F.

Posted 5 Months Ago


you made me an island that day

that line alone is worth the admission to this lovely poem Crowley.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Hi Crowley, I found this a rather interesting read... The torment and all she wanted was your heart... your love... seems such a simple thing..but alas it is not.
Never feeling you are worthy..just not good enough...and, yet you actually are..all that digging..and digging
BUT, in the end was she truly worth it...
There are so many wonderful metaphors (my favourite thing) in you wonderful poem.....
Really loved it,
Lisa, now in Spain after a long day...maybe I will have some ice cream?

Posted 1 Year Ago


Crowley

1 Year Ago

Yay, Ice Cream! Thanks for the great review, hope you are well. I will get to Spain one day, its on .. read more
Lisasview

1 Year Ago

You are most welcome.
Yes, be sure to come to Spain..when you do you might never go back...t.. read more
This is wonderful, Crowley, in parts surreal and desperate, in others, touching and sublime. It bears the mark of your genius and that's a brand worth not only keeping but worth sharing with others. Thank you for posting it here for us to read. It's truly a "writer's write" and very much enjoyed. F.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Crowley

1 Year Ago

Thank you Fabian. I recently signed up for a Two Sylvias Press online writers workshop and that was .. read more
Fabian G. Franklin

1 Year Ago

I use too much rhyme to suit the critics. My style is too simple and my verse, too common. I'm so gl.. read more


I don't know what I might have been imagining when I opened the page .. this is so bloody good, I guess I just forgot .. Quite simply brill sir and I aint talkin fish neither .................. Neville :)

Posted 1 Year Ago


Crowley

1 Year Ago

Neville, thank you so much I fell the same about the last one I read of yours. You have a great sens.. read more
sometimes we try to hard to impress when we really are loved for who we are.

and, all she wants is his heart.

j.

Posted 1 Year Ago


Crowley

1 Year Ago

Thank you Jacob, sometimes its a hard thing to hand over as flattened by experience as it can be.
Great construction. Led me through like a thoroughbred around the clubhouse turn, and the whip didn't sting. Another wonderful example of your talent.
Winston

Posted 1 Year Ago


Crowley

1 Year Ago

Thanks Winston, I am very grateful!

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Added on August 25, 2022
Last Updated on August 25, 2022

Author

Crowley
Crowley

Phoenix, AZ



About
Like to hang out with other writers and see what's what. Have met a lot of good people on this and other sites through the years. Decided to come back and do a little posting and reading. Hit me up i.. more..

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