The In Betweens~

 

Between the first beat of the heart

And the last

The story nestles into the bones

So that when they lay the woman on the pyre

The smoke will carry every tale

To a heaven she never believed in

 

A wise one once said

If it cannot be disproved

It’s possible

 

I wonder

When I finally bend knees

As I sift through her ash

Will there be a godling next to me

Tracing her calligraphy

Into the sky

 

One never knows

What dreams may come

Between the last heartbeat

And the first breath

 

Auntie always said,

Infants are cranky

Because they still remember

The other story in their bones

Before the inhale

And the exhale

Begins to write them anew

 

 

copyright:2011vssmd/amusemusepress

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Reviews

[Ashesh]

its a ritual in hinduism that people are put upon the pyre after the death. i have been to many such occasions and my mind had similar queries about life like in your poem. others things in life make very little sense then; death is the only universal truth it seems.
how eloquently you potrayed this feeling. loved reading this one. thank you.

[David W Moore III]

Riveting. I held my breath. What comes in the endless time between breaths? A poem Of such substance that while its voice seems to whisper compared to many of your pieces, we hear every word deep in our bones. While last week's poem was my fave, in an in your face way with the gut punch, this one makes me sit forward and strain to catch every nuance. The calligraphy in the sky... Amazing picture. Painting the image while alluding to the story she wrote between first and last. A whole story in itself told in 5 words. From first to las and last to first... It seems we both were on a life death and rebirth mood this past week! Like I said last week, you are punching them out with both quantity (thank you) and quality (we're not worthy). I'm quite jealous right now!

[OT]

the last stanza in particular is stunning here Selene - "infants are cranky because they still remember the other story in their bones" - WOW!!! that is the standout of this poem and most poems I've read!! such a killer thought! I love the voice in this one! but that last stanza just brilliant!!! having re-read this I'm still amazed by that line there - just a wow indeed!

[FireWoman]

The idea of Heaven seems foreign as we walk among this Earthly Hell. We will rise with the ashes on Angel's breath, floating closer to those who are waiting for us.

This piece was perfect, you are growing wiser with each stroke of your pen. I am sure your Auntie's are very proud. =)

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

Being in this odd mood this poem made me cry.
I don't know what comes after the first breath and last heart beat-
I do believe - but ..
Your poem is one to think about and as always beautiful to read.

Chloe

[SpokenWord]

You are rather spiritual lately and it is good for what you are sharing with us. I am at a cross road spiritually walking that fine line of belief and lies all mixed into places called religion. I can only hope there is another breath to take after the last heatbeat and hopefully many more after that. Awesome!

[Robin]

echoes that reverberate through soul ~ this ink glows ~

[Cafe Reader]

This is one of my favorite poems from you. Hope. Here you give hope to the hopeless. Beautiful, Selene.

[Quinn Blackburn]

Brilliant! I found myself holding my breath throughout this one. Lovely food for thought... Svaha... the best of Life and Hope lies in the potential of that moment between.... between life and death, lightning and thunder, inhalation and exhalation. xo Gorgeous wordcrafting, Dearheart :o)

[Ed Hart]

you had such wonderful people shading your early life, and the magic is always with you

[Chris Smith Welshpoetcs]

Touching in a unique way, your poetry is amazing my friend.