Poison is in my throat, wild and burning
yet as a dying man wandering the desert
I drink from the ever-flowing fountain
never wondering if this oasis is a mirage
if the flowing waters spill from the mouth of delusion
or if the sun is hiding behind the palm fronds
ready and waiting for the inevitable day
when once more I set off over the sands
Then to the horizon goes my gaze
my vision blurred by the desert heat
and dry lips cracking as I try to speak the word
sighing with the wind across the sand
a eulogy to the beauty that once bloomed here
across this sea bed raised to the blooded sky
and rolling away to fall with the rest into darkness
—
You know, for all the times deserts appear in the poetry I write, I’ve never actually been to one.
—
The Light is On 
12 responses to “Poison in My Throat”
Don’t think you’re missing out on much. Amazing piece!
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Thank you! Cheers (:
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The desert can be pretty amazing. It’s not always hellishly hot, and there’s a lot more variability to the geography than we often think. Sometimes even trees! But it’s the harshness that makes the desert worth being in, and you can get a lot of inspiration from that feeling that relief isn’t coming. I wrote this about the desert, even though it barely mentions it (safer that way, haha):
The Desert Breaks
Sun-starved and far too tame,
With a mild wounding from the annum’s rain,
I took me to the Devil’s breast
And bared my skin at God’s behest.
We get wistful about smiling things.
About breezes and comfort and solemn things
That brush against our memories
Like a dandelion gone cottony.
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Well you’ve convinced me to go. Very cool, thanks for sharing that! (:
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Then you are more than a poet, friend–to see with holy imagination’s eye is a gift indeed. Splendid poetry, always.
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Cheers (:
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Blessings to you 🙂
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The opening lines are so striking and draw the reader in. I think maybe the desert acts better as a metaphor than somewhere to actually visit!
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Thanks so much! (:
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Fan-freaking-tastic. This line was hauntingly beautiful: “a eulogy to the beauty that once bloomed here.”
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Thanks so much! (: cheers
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