Cypress Sighs
June 7, 2011
No weeping willows
here
shedding dappled tears
onto subdued ground.
Quarried marble
sunken stones
wrought by hands
of ashen flesh and blood
thudding pulse
pushing up
into a living sky
untouched tapestry
pushing down
into this mortal coil
anchoring the dead
in the present.
Only cypresses
here
many popes ago
saplings six feet over
now filtering
the slanting sun
the long majestic fuck
of afternoon light
and life.
(part of One Shot Wednesday week 49)
expatinCAT's Blog 
anchoring the dead in the present…though i bet they think they truly live…life and light is best served unfiltered…
I quite agree Brian! Thanks for stopping by.
“anchoring the dead
in the present.”
like how that line leads into the slanting sun among light and life
Thanks Adam!
wow, i truly like the long and majestic reference…very creative write and also intense to gather up and contemplate….your depth and emotion sent me back to read your words again…
sincerely,
Thank you so much Janice. I’ve just been to your blog and enjoyed immensely your words and music. 🙂
Wow powerful ending you brought
Liked this one a lot
Strong words bring out the write
Making it from start to finish really tight
Hey Pat!
Thanks for that
poem from your pen
please come again!
I really like the movement throughout this piece. Very strong.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.
Who is the Cypress sighing? hmm pushing up
into a living sky
untouched tapestry
pushing down….very rude Peter!! very enjoyable, shocker of an ending with the F word!
I beg to differ my lady! I am never rude…well…sometimes. 🙂 I thought the f*** word was poetically justified..
this is gorgeous, the words as sharp as those scalpels you have there in the background (which are slightly disturbing, by the way–but in a good way). that last verse is killer, and i love the images you conjure throughout.
Thank you so much Joanna. I’m glad you enjoyed reading it. 🙂
Beautiful writing, as always, Peter. Each image elegantly captured and the rhythm and pace of your words is perfect 🙂
Thank you Monica…I really appreciate it. 🙂
I love the title of this poem and how it almost reads in my mind as: Suppress(ed) (Cypress) Sighs. The Cypress tree is a symbol of mourning and I love how you work that through the poem. 🙂 I also love the usage of “saplings six feet” instead of using “under” you used “over” which to me symbolizes the cypress looming over life like the “untouched tapestry” “anchoring the dead.” & the usage of “saplings” also gets me as well since it expresses youth taking over like the never-ending cycle of life & death. Brilliant and bold symbolism, Peter! ❤
P.S. You are forgiven for the profanity. xP
You’ve read the poem with a keen eye and you’re spot on with all your observations. Thank you for your comment! 🙂
The way in which you constructed this makes the Dead alive in a way they never imagined. Wonderful write….
A very powerful poem that has a beautiful flow to it.
Thank you Jo. I appreciate you stopping by.