Stripping Flesh from Bones

~~ 1 ~~

What am I to do
with this blank sheet of paper
and an empty pen?

~~ 2 ~~

A dream at midnight—
someone mumbling Basho’s name
imitates a frog.

~~ 3 ~~

three clay pots—
white chrysanthemums
in full bloom

~~ 4 ~~

three stolen plums
stuffed in his left pocket
to eat later

~~ 5 ~~

wild roses
blooming on roadsides
in Georgia

~~ 6 ~~

She speaks in tongues
that no one understands
except her god.

~~ 7 ~~

lying down to sleep
in different beds each night—
her long loneliness

~~ 8 ~~

powers of darkness
gathering near the hedgerow
disguised as egrets

~~ 9 ~~

As the signpost burns,
I take off my tattered shoes
to walk barefoot home.

~~ 10 ~~

at my journey’s end
laying down my faithful staff
to take up a cross

~~ 11 ~~

stripping flesh from bones
through every kind of weather—
Dr. Death at work

~~ 12 ~~

Beginnings are hard—
ask the chick trapped in the shell
or the child in school.

© 2015 by Magical Mystical Teacher

More Poetry Pantry #244

More The Sunday Whirl, Wordle 204

Posted on March 22, 2015, in 3-5-3, 4-6-4, 5-7-5, The Poetry Pantry, The Sunday Whirl and tagged am, beginnings, burns, clay, dream, end, powers, sleep, stolen, through, tongues, wild. Bookmark the permalink. 24 Comments.

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Comments 24

oldegg | March 22, 2015 at 6:20 am

Sadly in 12, endings are no easier!

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- magicalmysticalteacher | March 22, 2015 at 6:30 am
  
  You know, you’re right!
  
  On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 5:20 AM, Magical Mystical Teacher wrote:
  
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Mary | March 22, 2015 at 6:57 am

Ah, with a blank sheet of paper and an empty pen, I’d say make a paper airplane with that paper. Smiles.
And…I would rather walk barefoot any day than to bear the discomfort of wearing tattered shoes!

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- magicalmysticalteacher | March 22, 2015 at 7:04 am
  
  I agree: Barefoot is always better (except in snow!).
  
  On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 5:57 AM, Magical Mystical Teacher wrote:
  
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Jae Rose | March 22, 2015 at 7:01 am

But start we do and grow into our plumage – if only in words…

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CC Champagne | March 22, 2015 at 7:17 am

Such amazing imagery! And so thought provoking! Haven’t written or read poetry in quite a while and I’m starting to remember why I love it so much! *smile*

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- magicalmysticalteacher | March 22, 2015 at 7:19 am
  
  Wow! Thank you!
  
  On Sun, Mar 22, 2015 at 6:18 AM, Magical Mystical Teacher wrote:
  
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Björn Rudberg (brudberg) | March 22, 2015 at 8:30 am

Oh this is perfect images.. Somehow those stolen plums where especially provocative in a good way…

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kelvin s.m. | March 22, 2015 at 9:33 am

1. Nice question. Maybe, I’d fold the paper & create an origami swan. As to empty pen..hmmn… i’m workin’ on it.. hehe..

2. I love Basho.. & oh, the frogs too. Both are lovely company at nighttime.

3…oh yes.. at full bloom for Spring!

4. The plums & the notion of ‘stolen’—so bucolic to me… but plums would def. taste better when not stolen!

5. Lovely double meaning there.

6. What an intriguing lady!

7. I feel sorry for her for falling into such world.

8. Interesting image.

9. Quite the gesture to do that..& yes, intriguing too.

10. I like the turn in there, ‘laying staff to take up a cross’… touching & something fresh!

11. Odd pairing of ‘Dr.’ & ‘Death’ as the former suggests ‘healing’ while the latter suggests ‘breaking’. But death certainly is always at work, 24/7!

12. True that!

Smiles.

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Sumana Roy | March 22, 2015 at 9:36 am

aww…no 4 is so cute…love them all..

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Sherry Marr | March 22, 2015 at 11:24 am

Oh my goodness, this week you have surpassed yourself. Such gems. I was especially moved by “her long loneliness”, the powers of darkness disguised as egrets and the chick in the egg and the child in school. Fabulous offerings this week, my friend. Stellar writing!

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Sanaa | March 22, 2015 at 12:49 pm

Your poetry offers such depth and eloquence!! I m so inspired!
xoxo

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zongrik | March 22, 2015 at 12:52 pm

i like the stolen plums to eat later the best. they better not smush in his pocket.

Evaporate until you Lenticulate

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Mr. Walker | March 22, 2015 at 1:09 pm

Always a delight reading your haiku. I love the nod to Basho, the plums, the egrets, and the beginnings. – Richard

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Donna@Living From Happiness | March 22, 2015 at 1:36 pm

I was trying to pick my favorite, which is always hard, but oh the last one really rang true for me as those of us beginning again even now in our lives still find it hard!

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http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com | March 22, 2015 at 2:26 pm

A wonderful set. I particularly liked the reference to Basho, but No.7 left me up in the air.

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peggygoetz | March 22, 2015 at 3:17 pm

Wonderful collection of musings here. I love poems that capture moments like these.

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ZQ | March 22, 2015 at 3:18 pm

You are on your “game” you are right on. 🙂

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1sojournal | March 22, 2015 at 3:49 pm

Although I did read and enjoy all of them, #1 stopped me in my tracks and reminded me of a myth I wrote about just such a thing. If you have time, you will find it here: https://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/2010/06/25/the-call/

Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com/

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totomai | March 22, 2015 at 4:03 pm

you have mentioned Basho – for me, he is the master of haiku. lovely haikus

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Ninot | March 23, 2015 at 4:49 am

I imagine, in the novel Dune, Duke Leto Atreides would cherish all these haiku as evidence of humanity. Loved them all, MMT.

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- magicalmysticalteacher | March 23, 2015 at 5:32 am
  
  I had no idea there was a haiku lover in “Dune,” a novel I have tried to read several times,but without success. Maybe I’ll give it one more shot!
  
  On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 3:49 AM, Magical Mystical Teacher wrote:
  
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Suyash_J | March 23, 2015 at 2:43 pm

the first verse as my favourite

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glmeisner | March 25, 2015 at 6:33 am

A wonderful set. Number six is marvelous.

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