she stands on life’s ledge
her only hope, heaven
stars, her only light
she slips deep into
desolate seas, pitch-black
her eyes become ink
her mouth, silenced
the salt, stingless
over open wounds
she is not sad
sadness begins
sadness ends
she is static
It’s Quadrille time over at dVerse Poets Pub. What’s a quadrille? It is a poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title but it must include a given word or derivative of the word. Today the word is “static”. You can join in too.
Image: pixabay.com
mishunderstood 
Somehow I feel that she is founding some rest in being static… maybe we all need those moments to mend our wounds
We do need those static moments sometimes.
This is how I feel after chemo – sort of numbed and cut off, and so very very tired. It really spoke to me. I loved this line: her eyes become ink – I’m not sure why – it’s such a striking image – ink is for communicating, but it’s also for blotting things out, being opaque.
Thinking of you, Sarah.
And what a spot on statement about the eyes become ink line.
Sending you a virtual hug today.
Sarah, I hope you’re doing much better. I truly wish the poem didn’t resonate with you! Thank you for giving me a different interpretation of that line that I hadn’t thought of. 🙂
I am sending prayers and virtual hugs to you, Ms. Sarah.
Lovely, and I thought sad–but perhaps static is restful, rather than numb, and perhaps that is what she needs. I agree that “her eyes become ink” is striking.
Thank you, Merril. I enjoyed your different interpretations. I was influenced by the loss of Naomi Judd and so many others…..
Oh, I hadn’t thought about Naomi Judd–that makes sense. It’s so sad.
I responded to this write, thinking about someone in the throes of depression….static….unable to move forward, seeing no way out. A series of painful words…. “pitch-black” “on life’s edge” “desolate” “open wounds” My heart aches for people who feel this way.
My heart aches too. It is just unacceptable that in so many cases, there is no real help. Thanks for your thoughtful comment.
Wow! Intriguing
Happy Monday
Much💛love
Thank you, Gillena. Happy Monday to you! After signing into my Google, I was still unable to find a place to post a comment on your blog. Perhaps its a glitch on my end, not sure. I really enjoyed your poem and the uniqueness of “static fusion”.
I wish I’d read your quadrille before writing mine. You have made this potent with the rhythm…it really bites with sadness, and I see how you have done it, and how important it is to do, so very nicely done, edgy, sharp, leading right up to the pinnacle.
Thank you so much, Ain, however, you need not read my poem for inspiration as your quadrille is absolutely gripping.
Ain, I am not able to comment on your blog site for some reason. Just wanted to let you know I’m reading all your posts. They are powerful and gut-wrenching.
I love the rhythm of your words. The word static is somehow so full of life. What a great choice. ❤
Thank you, Colleen. I hope my comment stuck to your page. I wasn’t sure.
It did. Was it difficult to comment?
It wasn’t but just isn’t visible (to me) directly after posting. I’m glad it finds its way.☺️
wow truly moving poem.
Thanks so much, rog.
Static. Not sad, not happy. Been there often. Heaven is a good hope to have. Beautifully penned. 💝
Thank you, Mary. I wish it wasn’t the only hope for some.
You did a beautiful poem describing the feelings a person might have as they contemplate the choices of living in pain or dying to relive it.
Thank you so much, Dwight. We were on the same page in our poetry today.
Yes we were…
I’m with Dwight – this is very much how I felt upon reading this piece, Mish!
Much love,
David
What a perfect image. I enjoyed the comparison of stasis and sadness. Beautifully done.
Thank you, Maria. 🙂
As Ain points out, the rhythm is key to the effectiveness of this poem…JIM
Thank you, Jim 🙂
You capture that caught-between feeling that we all get sometimes.
Thanks Xan. I appreciate your interpretation.
Well expressed! Sounds that perhaps she is ‘stuck’.
Thank you, Carol.
A powerful poem…I interpreted it as suicidal but should we make peace with death?!
It definitely was not the intention of the poem. I guess we all need to make peace with death when our time comes….but here, I was describing how one might feel as they suffer depression (vs. sadness) and how this or any other debilitating mental illness could bring them to a numbing, static place where hope is lost and yes, possibly suicidal thoughts.
Thanks for explaining. My mind took it a step too far! It stirred something deep in me because people I’ve loved have been suicidal.
lynn…it was intended to express the reality of suicidal thoughts and how one would get to that point. I’m very sorry that your loved ones have experienced this. I lost my stepson to suicide less than two years ago and a very good friend of mine recently lost her son. The sudden death of Naomi Judd did lead to this quadrille….
I’m sorry for your loss, Mish. I’m glad you wrote on this subject.
Thank you, lynn. I appreciate that.
“life’s ledge”…like she is hovering on the edge…neither here nor there…sort of limbo!
I love how your striking images made me think and the various interpretations in comments added to your quadrille, Mish.
Thank you. I think it would feel like limbo, and also intolerable. Yes, the comments really made me examine what I’d written.
You are welcome. The reader’s perspective always provides fresh insights. 🙂
languishing. i felt this a i read your poem. it is a sadness or blankness that lingers and i felt that in this piece, Mish. beautiful.
Thanks you. 🙂
There is a feeling of such overwhelming numbness here – so tenderly and beautifully expressed. The image accompanies it so perfectly.
Thank you. 😊
I think everyone enjoys some static in their lives. Good one, Mish!
Oh, man. I LOVE this line:
“her eyes become ink”
Like everything she sees becomes something she writes. Beautiful.