The Witness of Words

There are times she just sits there
rubbing a tired hand across her eyes,
other times, head bent her tongue
protruding from the corner she
writes diligently, the scratching pen
alive and like a magicians wand
streaks of black bleed into paper.
The room is lit only by a lamp
where shadows observe silently,
they stand sentry by the drapes and
in the deepest recesses of the room.
They watch the dust motes swirl
like tiny flickering stars around her
as with tired shrug of her shoulders
her head will lift slowly to gaze
at vistas no one else will ever see.
Hands worn numb as cramped
fingers long to feel warmth,
she'll wring, oozing life into them
the white pressure marks cut deep.
A bottle with its lid open is
a dark and foreboding sea with its
tidal marks left to drift aimless.
It smells like blood in the air
a metallic scent as its contents spill.
This is the essence and the pen
is a tool that writes in all its pain,
perhaps she is no soldier of action,
only a quiet witness of words
that bring no cathartic release.





Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 521 times
Written on 2008-02-20 at 12:23

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Kathy Lockhart
this is absolutely outstanding Elle. A beautiful descriptive, image- alive poem from a hand and heart of a true poet. Lovely!!
2008-02-21


lastromantichero The PoetBay support member heart!
This is awonderfully nostalgic poem Elle andi too remember the ink wells at school and the chalkdust board rubbers. it took me back to three upper when i found out by putting Calcium carbide into the ink wells one turned the ink brown and could light the acetylene gas produced from the chemical reaction.

This poem is you at your sophisiticated best a writer of formidable talent and this particular pievce reminded me that

you have almost described Agatha Christie how she would ha seen the world well done on creating such vivid images
rgds Mike x
2008-02-20


M Heathcote
Hi Elle
Very brooding this, I liked the shadows and the dust motes swirl
like tiny flickering stars; all in all a very interesting picture you've drawn out of these pen scratching, nice write!

Mark xxx
2008-02-20



and we witness her, witnessing the words...
2008-02-20