They are wells
with tulip's skin
not welts from
reckless kettle-burns
nor winter-slashes
on black mirrored ice
and not splintered-stones
moon-stitched,
lifeless
you say:
my memories are treacherously
frail
but inside this battle-weary heart
I keep a
purse of scars
burning
& stars writhing (still)
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Quadrille - 44 word post with the word SCAR - The pub opens at 3pm EST ~ Thanks De ~
I love the way you keep those scars, a precious gift in the way you present them, love the word tulip skinned.
ReplyDeleteOh, Grace. Just gorgeous. "tulip skinned" and THIS:
ReplyDelete"splintered-stones
moon-stitched,
lifeless"
Wonderful.
Scars make us who we are, all adding up.
ReplyDeleteI am scarred up like a berserker, & have learned to cherish & own those lightning swathes outside & in; really enjoyed this one, Grace; terrific word-smithing--liked the lines /I keep a/purse of scars/burning/.
ReplyDeleteI love the list of what your scars are not, so telling of what they are. This is simply beautiful and heartwrenching at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHoly cannoli! This is insanely good!!!
ReplyDeleteThe title flowing into the first two lines is pure magic.
I love the suggestion that they might be ink wells, from which you dip inspiration and draw your poems.
DeleteWOW. I love this. Wonderful imagery.
ReplyDeleteI liked the idea of keeping "a purse of scars burning".
ReplyDeleteOh my...such a deep and powerful vulnerability in these words. Moving.
ReplyDeleteWow, Grace! Tulip's skin and a purse of scars! The imagery in this quadrille is fabulous. I have so many scars from silly accidents. operations and self-inflicted ones that I can never get rid of - if only I had a purse big enough...
ReplyDeleteBeautifully penned Grace and the 'scars burning' makes it feel as if it is very raw and recent. Sending love your way xxx
ReplyDeleteSad but beautiful capture.even through the scars...
ReplyDeleteA melancholy remembrance of scars gone by, never to be forgotten why they are there.
ReplyDeletepurse of scars
ReplyDeleteburning
& stars writhing (still)... beautifully written.
I really like this take on scars ☺
ReplyDelete'battle-weary' and 'tulip skin' phrases that will stick with me. Well done, Grace!
ReplyDeletei love how you define your scar.
ReplyDeletewow...simply gorgeous...I can read this many times...!
ReplyDeleteSpeechless - those writhing stars!
ReplyDeletepurse of scars
ReplyDeleteburning
& stars writhing (still)
Gorgeous!!❤️
I have a purse like that where all the scars not on my skin reside.
ReplyDeleteI also love the phrase tulip skinned, and the last couple lines are especially beautiful. So delicate.
ReplyDeleteI too like the image of a purse filled with scars, and stars writhing.
ReplyDeletebut inside this battle-weary heart
ReplyDeleteI keep a purse of scars
Sometimes one feels the hurt but would rather not flog the issue. This helps maintain harmony!
Hank
I keep a purse of stars.......
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore this line! I also like the idea of expressing the kinds of scars they are not. Affirmation in the negative :)
Mental scars always seem so fresh.
ReplyDeleteYou've woven a fascinating tale. Love the tulip skin.
ReplyDeleteI think we might have the same purse. I think I'd like to replace scars with a purse full of glistening stars
ReplyDeleteSome scars last a lifetime but I believe are part and parcel to who we are. Not a bad thing in many ways. I like how this flows. Nice.
ReplyDeleteLove how at the end, the scars are like stars and the stars like scars
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to show how scars make us stronger. Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteEvery "battle-weary heart" must hold a "purse of scars"...you expressed this so well!
ReplyDeleteThe images are arresting, particularly the closing one.
ReplyDelete'I keep a purse of scars burning' I like this image...relate to it, particularly in the context of the whole poem. janice
ReplyDelete"but inside this battle-weary heart
ReplyDeleteI keep a
purse of scars
burning "
Wow, I can feel not only the pain, but also maybe an undercurrent of hidden strength, of resolve. Nicely done.
Some incredible phrasing and images in this ... "wells
ReplyDeletewith tulip's skin" (oh my). I am amazed at some of the places your words go to. Stunning.
How beautiful, Grace. That whole part about memory made me think of the visuals we are shown of the plaques of Alzheimer's--the scars in the brain. So well expressed.
ReplyDeleteImpressive as always. I love it.
ReplyDelete