There was no way to tell how it began.
Who unravelled first.
Who unzipped who.
They open each other like birthday presents. Just what they wanted.
She unwraps his smile, the one he only uses in the moonlight these days.
He unfastens her black ribbons. The ones that hold her down, the ones her mother tied neat bows in.
They proudly place their finds on their mantelpiece and friends ooh and ahh and they hold hands and say,
Yes, isn’t it?
Then she finds a lock. Covered in rust. Crackling with time. She strokes it, gently. She puts her ear close. She peers into the keyhole, with her hair held back, bent at the knees and whispers,
Hello?
Then he finds a box. Covered with dust. Banded with gold. He shakes it a little in his nimble hands, he presses it to his lips and murmurs,
Hello?
There might have been an echo.
But there was no way to tell
They savour these puzzles. They lay awake beside one another at night and turn the pieces over and over. They begin to wonder how much better this darkened room would look flooded with light.
To be the first to uncover.
Be the first to unlock.
How much clearer the light would be.
How easier it would be to sleep.
Without the box.
Without the lock.
And so,
She bides her time.
He waits in the shadows.
Feigning contentment.
That the fastenings so far are enough.
That they can see fine in this light.
When it opens and spills out it glares, it sears, and they squint in disbelief.
But she is not that surprised as she stares down at herself, steaming open.
But he is not that shocked as he splits right in two.
They hold each other close and try to shove the pieces back and pretend this light, this blinding thing will go away.
They hold each other close and hope that they will be able to unsee.
Luckyvegetable, 3 months ago
Oh! Your descriptions are always so beautiful and visceral, they make me wince, but I’m compelled to keep reading.
cheridan, 3 months ago
Oh this is so wonderful and so easily envisioned, the splitting, the blinding, the searing. I really enjoy it :)
greeneyedlady, 3 months ago
Wow, I’ve already read this three times and it gets more powerful each time I read it! I can see so many things in it, but for me it’s loss of innocence that stands out most vividly. What a great poem!
xstephens, 3 months ago
I love how you mix the vivid and abstract, the specific and traditional…sexy and sad…well done as always!
butchart, 3 months ago
your just too damn good…............b
deliriousgirl, 3 months ago
JFC!!!!! I’m just astounded by this!!!!!
It’s rather strange but something very nearly like this happened to me recently and reading it here in these fantastically beautiful words of yours just makes me cry and laugh at the same time.
I just want to devour this, cannibalize it so it will be forever a part of me!
Thanks, you’re brilliant!
jen
Jessica Tremp, 3 months ago
love how you weave little things in here and there, seemingly abstract but so very, very real and right in front of us
Rachael Hope, 3 months ago
ooooooh Yasemin you have to stop taking pieces of my heart, there won’t be any left soon!! This is so so so so fucking divine. It’s elegant and subtle. The description is just well as always marvellous. I love the ending; curiosity killed the cat big time. Such a brilliant fresh take on a classic story, only you could do this Yasemin and make it count.
flower68, 3 months ago
You have an extraordinary talent for writing,and expressing the emotion in a situation the way you do.Spellbinding…
clone42, 3 months ago
holy shit
clone42, 3 months ago
Just read this to someone who said -
it felt like I was there, like I know these people or something…
He’s on-to-it
Kristy Lee, 3 months ago
Exceptional! I honestly believe I could read this again and again and never tire of it. Straight to my favs! :)
Jboo09, 3 months ago
Oh my, this is FANTASTIC! A riveting little tale, had 100% of my attention from the first word to the last… what a symbolic and wonderful story, and written with great talent.
Fenderhead, 3 months ago
“They hold each other close and hope that they will be able to unsee.” ignorance is bliss? I so miss being innocent. Everything was light then.
lianne, 3 months ago
Just simply brilliant – so sorry I missed it while I was away. The loss of innocence, yes, but we can’t “unsee” can we? Spellbinding, incredibly well written.