Sunday, January 1, 2012

Surgery

It is not enough
to rip this new year from its shiny packaging,
inhaling its plasticy scent from stem to stern
and grope its sleek newborn skin.
No, no--I must
cut through its surface layers
to its core,
to the meat of it all,
where the epicenter beats like a tiny, hopeful drum.
The pulsing rhythm is just
a whisper now, a promise
But soon, I will find the middle
and release the song.
The notes will drip down my chin
And my mouth will be filled
with sweet nectar,
sending celestial bursts
that shine for a brief moment
and fade down, down
finally becoming absorbed by
 the well-worn fabric of my heart

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

i like this line -

where the epicenter beats like a tiny, hopeful drum.

nice how you hit all the senses

Brian Miller said...

dang...nice intensity and it speaks of savoring the new year for sure...let it run down our chins....

Claudia said...

great - i like...right into the epicenter where all the action happens...love it---happy new year to you

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Wow. I love the "tiny hopeful drum" and the "well worn fabric of my heart". Beautiful and hopeful poem. Uplifting.

Old Egg said...

It is interesting that you titled this one "Surgery". Lucky you that somehow you are master of your fate in this New Year whereas I have always been its plaything. I loved the way this piece read so well.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

It speaks of hope. Thank you.

Lavonne said...

I love this...it's like one of those scenes in a movie where you want to look away but find yourself peeking through your fingers...great intensity and buildup :)

Mark Kerstetter said...

Well at least you're eating it and nourishing yourself. When the poem started I had the thought you were going to find its tender little heart and stab it. Guess it was the title, and maybe I had those hidden scissors in mind. Have a great new year!

Lilibeth said...

That's what I call delight.

Laurie Kolp said...

Lovely metaphor... happy new year!

tattytiara said...

Plasticy new smell - wonderful reference.

Anonymous said...

I found this to be carnivorous and aggressive. It was intriguing...I almost expected you to use the word blood where you used nectar...maybe you didn't want to scare us?

Seann McCollum said...

Delicious stew of metaphors. This is why I'll never go back to being vegetarian; I missed flesh too much.

Seann McCollum said...

One thought; "napkin of my heart" would be funnier and more pertinent to the poem, while "apron of my heart" could lead the viewer to make a connection between heart and apron strings. Just a thought. Best, S.

Suz said...

wow...that was some ride!

Tigerbrite said...

I hope the heart of the New Year heartens the well-worn fabrice of your heart.

Unknown said...

you speak truth in wonder full way .


Kaplan Step 2

Trifecta said...

This is really pretty. I like the tiny, hopeful drum. Your writing is lovely.