memento-mori

Flashing images at the end of time...

Smoke

Ash of memories

Miasma of emotions

Fractured snapping reminiscences

Shape-shifting history

Smoke

Facts transmogrified mirages

Time muddled brain

Shifting dreamy hallucinations

Smog blackened faces

Smoke

Blinding leathery ether

Wispy fleeting voids

Nebulous shifty truths

Guilt induced torpor

Smoke

Raspy coughing voices

Frosted window glasses

Kohl rimmed tears

Shaken arduous breaths

Smoke

Alcohol induced stupor

Crisscrossing confusing detours

Slowly unravelling past

Hurt heart's ardor

Author's Note

me·men·to mo·ri   [muh-men-toh mawr-ahy, mohr-ahy, mawr-ee, mohr-ee; for 1 also Lat. me-men-toh moh-ree]
–noun, plural memento mori for 2.
1.
(italics) Latin. remember that you must die.
2.
an object, as a skull, serving as a reminder of death or mortality.

Reviews

[Joiedevivre]

The end of time for one or all, catastrophe or not, wonderfully conveyed. Brilliant and evocative use of the word smoke reminds me of my travels in Nepal and India where I saw bodies cremated along the Ganges river. All in all, this is superbly atmospheric.

[Murtuza]

I like the different personifications of smoke that you've used and how they lead to one's ultimate demise. Powerful and unique. Really nice job :)

[Sel Whiteley]

I love how you've managed to combine the literal and metaphysical within this, particularly the second and third stanzas. You really engage with the power of smoke as being something that obscures our vision wonderfully. The structure, partiularly outting smoke and then short associative clauses really enhances a sense of confusion that I thought seems epicentral to the poem in the mindset of the person of others who do not know how to engage with the person, who seems to be alcoholic. The omission of punctuation enhances the rhythm and emotional impact of the poem. There is also a masterful use of sonics such as the emphasise on the m throughout which seems to add a thickness reminscient of smole. A poem that showcases your genuis.

[Lily Mae]

This poem holds two meanings for me...the smoke or smoke screen we put in between ourselves and life and just smoke...it reminds me of my mothers last days. Great thought provoking write.. :) x