When Edith Spoke

A Poem

Edith’s brittle bones were filled with natural ink Her mind, a stack of wet chalk and boiled bricks Edith’s voice — a sharp ray of blinding sun Her gaze, dead with misery, yet hinting anger

Edith roared — 7 continents, five oceans — stunned

She digs through memories, like a trained artisan A statue floats. She wonders when is it that her body became rubble. Water thickens under placid rocks

Flies circled the body of a rotting bird Edith built castles of stone Flies grew tired and disintegrated in scorching heat She painted pebbles in shades of blue

She follows a thought moving down her throat. Her stomach cries. She looks at her tears as drugged specimens. Winds howl.

Edith’s smile was hollower than her quelled melody Her breath, a heaving animal struggling to rise Edith’s movements were that of an abrupt story Her expressions, broken pottery crafted a while back

Edith spoke —five oceans, seven continents — merged

~

Inspired by Edith Stoner from the book Stoner by John Williams