navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #9 » the pillow
Open Poetry #9
Post A Reply Post New Topic the pillow Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
bsquirrel
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855


0 posted 2000-08-01 09:07 PM


A man lies in bed,
His plastic rosary casting green lights
On his cup of honey-lemon tea.

The sunlight casts its weight,
But he won't move from its heat.
He sweats his soiled sheets.

His right eye feels sore.
Like it has seen exactly enough
To be useless and bruised.

He breathes in careful strokes,
Coughs at the clockless wall,
The silence, the warmth.

Poetry is his church.
Words are his vices as well as his help.
He pens one more in his head.

"A pillow is your best friend.
You can fight with it; it will never harm.
You can whisper to it; it will keep your secrets.

"It keeps your knees cushioned in prayer.
It doesn't mind when it ends up on the floor
When you've made love.

"It stays as your life reaches its top;
Holds you as you fall apart,
Gently, just as slowly, to gears.

"Always soft, the pillow collects you.
You lose yourself in pieces, you see.
If you wash it enough, you will be gone.

"Finally gently holding your head
As you worry and are afraid.
With it, you are with someone."

He finds he can't open his eyes.
Hot light like a bright spill in the sky,
Like words.



[This message has been edited by bsquirrel (edited 08-01-2000).]

© Copyright 2000 MPC - All Rights Reserved
Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
1 posted 2000-08-01 09:13 PM


I enjoyed this Mike!  Very beautiful thoughts in this verse ... I don't think I'll ever look at my pillow the same way again!  

Best wishes,
/Kit

Janet Marie
Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554

2 posted 2000-08-01 09:20 PM


Poetry is his church.
Words are his vices as well as his help.
He pens one more in his head.

"A pillow is your best friend.
You can fight with it; it will never harm.
You can whisper to it; it will keep your secrets.

"It keeps your knees cushioned in prayer.
It doesn't mind when it ends up on the floor
When you've made love.
==========================
oh i do so love looking at the world thru your  poetic eyes...
awesome work here mike, really special.
bs/jm

ma miller
Senior Member
since 2000-07-11
Posts 806

3 posted 2000-08-01 10:22 PM


always unique -- always a good read ... love your work, bsquirrel ...
bsquirrel
Deputy Moderator 5 Tours
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-01-03
Posts 7855

4 posted 2000-08-03 02:45 AM


Kit,
Thank you. I wrote this one after staying home sick from work. I went to the Target up the street, bought a vaporizer and a copy of Sixth Sense, since I haven't seen it yet. Well, for some reason, the scene where Haley Joel Osment is lying in bed in the hospital, got me thinking about pillows, and how you're born on one -- you end your life on one; it's always there, throughout your life even when nothing else is stable. Even when you're dead, when you're in your coffin, your head will be on a pillow. I had to use that thought in poem form.

Janet,
Thanks.   Glad you liked it, and thanks for calling it special -- it's definitely spiritual to me.

MA M,
Glad you enjoyed; and thanks for your praise.

Mike

jennie may*
Member
since 2000-06-17
Posts 122

5 posted 2000-08-03 02:51 AM


Wow- I love the way good poets can take a simple object like a pillow and make a whole story out of it.  I chuckled at this line:
"It doesn't mind when it ends up on the floor/When you've made love"  Very sweet.
And you closed the poem very well. Like the last line.  Good piece.


"We have all these galaxies inside of us. And if we don't enter those in art, then I don't understand the point in doing anything."-Sam Shepard

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

6 posted 2000-08-03 11:07 AM


Loved this one, Mike...and you too...get well, m'friend.
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
7 posted 2000-08-03 02:11 PM


Always soft, the pillow collects you.
You lose yourself in pieces, you see.
If you wash it enough, you will be gone.

Oh, I do like the way you write!!  I am now going to go kiss my pillow.

Sudhir Iyer
Member Ascendant
since 2000-04-26
Posts 6943
Mumbai, India : now in Belgium
8 posted 2000-08-03 02:16 PM


A very well written poem indeed...

regards,
sudhir

Meadowmuse
Member Elite
since 1999-12-27
Posts 3263

9 posted 2000-08-04 10:58 AM


Hi Mike, how did I miss this? I get here so sporadically, it's hard to keep up. I enjoy the way you've placed the poem within the poem, giving this piece layers to explore.

"With it, you are with someone" ~ this line, in particular, pulled me close.

Hope you're feeling better, my friend.

~ Claire

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant?......Henry David Thoreau


passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
10 posted 2004-05-02 07:55 PM


very cool write
serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

11 posted 2008-03-10 10:32 PM


I miss you my old friend.
Earl Brinkman
Senior Member
since 2010-03-03
Posts 1183
Osaka, Japan
12 posted 2010-05-30 08:10 AM


An interesting read that stands out from other poems.
Mysteria
Deputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 10 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada
13 posted 2010-05-30 02:36 PM


Yes it does, and where the heck are you?  LOL, I miss reading your work, so get back in here.
Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #9 » the pillow

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary