she wore a red rope
tied in her chest
looped in the perfect bow
a love knot
figure of eight
scarlet snake
with ivory fangs
hissing
warning
the bough is broken
the cradle has fallen
tangled in bramble
knotted in thistle
she waited
with the rope in her chest
dangling her heart
strangling
hypnotising
casting a spell
on the end of red string
tick tock
tick tock
she huffs
and puffs
and blows it all down
howling with wolves
bearing pearled fangs
under wide waxy moons
in dark places
and spaces
forests
where she knows
the wild things are
and runs, she runs
with gypsies galore
in their wagons
with bells
whistles
smoke
and mirrors
who feed her cold plums
black cinnamon tea
tick tock
tick tock
but still
she breathes
constricted
restricted
by the knot
of red rope
tied in her chest
waiting
to come undone
she watches
as her face cringes
as it constricts
around her breath
restricts
her breast
the cavern in her chest
the bright scarlet rope
always dangling
always taunting
knotted
reflected
in her sparrow eyes
broken little bird
broken little wing
hanging by a hinge
from a scarlet red rope
and all she wants
all she asks for
with one wing
and the weight
of that beast in her chest
hissing
and
constricting
howling
singing
is for someone to notice
her
and she
wonders
as she smiles
with her egg white teeth
why no one
answers the call
of the wild
of the howling
the hissing
in her chest
the plea
for someone to hear
how do I
unravel
me.
copyright © 2009, Holly Ringland.
Miri
Holly, this is wonderful, i love it, love the imagery and the feelings…was completely swept along into the first few lines!
Holly Ringland replied
bex, you’ve made my morning. ever since nano i have found it increasingly difficult to be any kind of objective when reading my own work because i put such a concerted effort into slaying my inner compulsive editor/critic! but this seemed to spill from my fingertips this morning with my first coffee… so i am absolutely delighted that you enjoyed it so much. thank you, thank you, thank you :)
Lisa Jewell
Beautiful imagery and flow…..I felt and heard the plea…
xxx
Holly Ringland replied
lisa, thank you so much. i’m so glad you did… i think i dreamt this last night because i woke up this morning in a bit of a fog and i could hear and feel it too. thank you, as always, for reading my work. i really appreciate your comment xxx
ShadowDancer
have you ever seen a string hanging, and you pull on it and in that half a second that tiny pull has unraveled something… it’s unraveled and now long and unfurled in your fingers, and you’re looking at it in a slight daze… well that’s what this poem was to me. i took the first line, tugged down with my eyes, and these emotions unraveled before me (and within me) and it was passionate and amazing. so, miss ringland, thank you for dangling the string before my eyes.
Holly Ringland replied
goodness me darling, this comment has left me slack-jawed and utterly delighted. thank you. thank you for reading and responding so beautifully. it gives me chills to learn how my work is interpreted and felt – this comment of yours is no exception. i’ll stop faffing on and on… but truly. thank you.
KEITH R. WILL...
excellent poetry
Holly Ringland replied
cheers keith, thank you very much. i’m glad you enjoyed the read.
jomei249
tangled in bramble
knotted in thistle
....love that.
And a happy new year to you Ms Holly!
Holly Ringland replied
and to you Jim! thanks so much for your comment :)
greeneyedlady
what i saw was the empty, brittle heart, and the rope drawing tighter and tighter and tighter until it shattered, imploded…..such vivid words to inspire such vivid imagery! fantastic piece, holly!
Holly Ringland replied
well thank you so much lovely lady. i really appreciate your feedback, it’s deliciously encouraging. this piece felt like it kind of just poured out of me this morning, i’m so pleased you enjoyed it.
mss3
Very well written and full of suspense. The imagery is outstanding and the rhyme sublime. Bravo!
Holly Ringland replied
goodness, thank you mss3, this is a mighty fine comment that i take most humbly. thank you for reading and leaving your response here for me to find, it’s a lovely treat.
mstrace
finally catching up on four days worth of new work on redbubble (this 50% travel for work thing is a killer)...and I came across this piece! It’s lovely. Catches you right at the beginning and keeps you spinning atop the surface of the words the entire time, until the end…when the reader is swept down into the depths of emotion, like a sharp sky dive.
why no one
answers the call
of the wild
of the howling
the hissing
in her chest
the plea
for someone to hear
how do I
unravel
me.
stunning.
Holly Ringland replied
hello gorgeous trace… i miss you, what is with the 50% travel thing for work :) thank you for your words of warmth and kindness about this piece. i value your feedback so much and of course this is no exception. thank you for using your precious time to read my words, i appreciate it enormously. big love xxx
CloudChaser
your brilliance always overwhelms me… xx
Holly Ringland replied
you’re so kind miss cloud, so kind with your support and praise which are exactly like your namesake, clouds underfoot that i walk on, elevated, and inspired to keep writing. thank you dearly xx
Brad MacDuff
This is brilliant! There are children’s stories and fairy tales woven throughout… but then, you know that, don’t you? How do I unravel me? That is the question, isn’t it? I actually got goosebumps while reading this… I’ll be back to read again…. absolutely beautiful Holly.
Holly Ringland replied
this is a firecracker of a comment brad, thank you so much! you got it, you got it all… and i love it when that happens. i so value your feedback. thanks, as always, for reading.
Jenesa
I love it !!! I am addicted to reading your work i can’t get enough. You are such a miracle worker when you write.
Holly Ringland replied
you gorgeous girl, thank you for such warm and kind words about my work. i’m really so happy that you get so much out of reading my writing. thanks j.
lianne
All the fairy tales that mean something so much different when we read them and feel them as adults – totally come alive here for me Holly. But then, you know how I love fairytales anyway. I believe I could feel myself unraveling as I read, the pace quickened, the emotion deepened, the imagery moved me along this red rope. Exquisite as always Holly. These days I come on RB only about once a week and that to treat myself to you. Period, the end – lol.
Holly Ringland replied
well aren’t i just the exclusive lucky duck? because you know, everyone secretly just laps up your comments like they’re warm milk lianne… well, i know i certainly do and they feed and nourish my muse and motivation like nothing else. thank you so much lovely-heart.
mss3 16 days ago
This verse is beautiful! Questioning and asking for answers…ahhh the human condition! Wonderful read, thank you!