#7

The Beast

When I ask her what it sounds like
she says it grunts, drools,

it's hunched over and grinning.
When I ask her who it is, shes says it's her.

When I look her in the eye and ask, is it talking
to me now? Is it the beast talking when you talk?

She thinks for a minute, and says, no, it's curled up.
She's talking, but it's watching her.

Later that night, I make love for hours.
I forget my name, where my arms are, what

my tongue is doing. I think I must have cried out
unimaginable things and I think of my sister

in the next room, laying on her back, blinking in the dark.
The next morning, we make coffee and talk about the beast again.

My sister is rinsing out her cup when she turns
and says, slowly, it's male you know.

She looks surprised.

~Marie Howe

After our discussion in class, I went back through Howe's poems and found that my new favorite is indeed this one. I like the imagery used. You can see the beast hanging over the both of them. I also like the tone of this piece. You can feel the mystery and almost fear that the beast holds over these sisters. Although there were many good poems in The Good Thief, this one stands out the most to me.

#6

Disheartened

In the corner
she sits, her hair
tasseled like a
child's, clouds fall in-
to her eyes, gloom
has found its path
like the posture
of un-watered
flowers, she sits.


I decided to try my hand at syllabic verse. I had fun doing it! Hope you guys enjoy. Any suggestions are welcomed as always. ; )

#5

Disturbed

My eyes are reddened
by blood-vines that threaten
to seize the visions
of my youth.

My limbs are weighted
and much devastated
from the endurance
of the day.

My mind has weakened
it feels misunderstood
and knows it could use
a few dreams.

Lying in my bed
waiting for sleep to come
but a force holds me
here tonight.

There's a voice that
whisper's thoughts into my head.
I fear it's the voice-
of my bed?


Insomniac

I might be.
I lie awake for hours
wishing for dreams,
the peace to come.

But the thoughts I have
run rapidly through
the thoughts I've had.

Silence is my wish
but even when I think
that I have obtained it
my mind says it's so,

the thoughts start over again.
I have come to a conclusion
about my sleepless nights...

It's the mattress
in which I lay
that causes my distress.

Talking to me at night
with its soft whispers.

I went a little crazy with this assignment. I couldn't pick one, so I posted both of them.