The Sky Ate You

the sky ate you

you sat inside a steel womb
and were lifted into the sky

I did not watch for you
wrapped in the flaps of the plane
til you became a tiny asterisk above
a climate of wild clouds
throwing shadows down
at shrunken homes, dying cities

but last I saw
you had your rubber life strapped to your back
wheeling your suitcase behind you

your stories are left without roofs
names left out
of your masks and well delievered
murder mysteries

you peer over at me now
returned
"home" in case that word
is safe enough now
for pending use

afterall, the sky ate away at you
you tumbled back to earth

with the same open letter of confusion
as being born.

— whitetea, Apr 20, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: United States, USA

Favorite Poets: Chrystos, Mark Strand, Adrienne Rich, Naomi Shihab Nye, Rachel M. Simon, Donald Justice, Mary Oliver, Nikki Giovanni, Alice Walker, Bukowski, Mary Lambert

Critiques

Esker

16 years 1 month ago

words

immured in womb the steel flight I did not care to look when the sky ate you swallowed in the hull of the fuselage your asterick in the climax of clouds creeping shadow on towns of dying cities i can hear the wheels of you suitcase on the terminal echoes liferaft on your back you are stories without rooves eyes empty in masks the cypher of murder mystery wonder you peer over glasses safe home you are still pending arrival like a ghost at the door the sky consumed and you fell tumbled back the empathy of confusion as your birth before as and the same [just my interp cover of this great poem Whitetea] Esker~

Nordic cloud

16 years 1 month ago

Esker caught the essence of your thoughts?

Ann of Norway Or did he? This is out-of-body-mystery, and yet our minds and senses can extend themselves sometimes to loose what is called common sense, or awareness only of the actual perceptions as they stand, instead we, especially we 'poets' tend to allow our senses to explore just beyond the possible and in doing so maybe even hit the target of understanding with an even more potent intensity that can help others in turn see beyond into the heart of things and understand. Fascinatingly surreal and yet not. well done and I absolutely love the title White tea, much love Ann. Oh Orgami-Steven calling you Esker/boxes is odd for me but I suppose I have to!!!

pamela

16 years 1 month ago

Dear W., I really loved

Dear W., I really loved this one. I like what Esker did with it as well. It is a very versatile piece. Beautiful job!

lou

16 years ago

Great

Great imagery , lovely poem. lou x