Sanctuary
Romantic microfiction in poetic formatting.
As the dark circled around me,
as my blood was swallowed by the drain
again
One hesitation mark after another—
scorching my flesh and soul.
-
Before her,
there was only the solitude of my ripped flesh
and gauze-soaked in my poisoned blood.
Before her,
only dirt-cheap alcohol
to erase the last vestiges of self and sense.
Self and sense that reminded me,
taunted me,
how far I had slipped down,
and that all of it was my own doing.
My reckoning.
-
Then she came along.
She—my sparkling bismuth.
My sanctuary.
Me—a husk,
a worm burrowing aimlessly
through the suffocating soil of my living grave.
-
She pulled me from the grave,
quietly, solemnly.
Breathlessly,
in the quiet of the gasps,
without hesitation.
She cradled me in my grave,
and laid me in linen-soft comfort.
-
In her, I found sanctuary—
from the weight, from the burden.
Her love was not pity.
Her love was not charity.
Her love was pure.
Her love was my saviour.
-
She gave me her whole,
though I remained incomplete—
the last scratched etchings,
bloodied and imperfect,
on the wall of a cell.
Before the inmate gave way
to the call of his dark.
-
And still,
she nursed me back to something
something approaching life.
-
By her side, without hesitation.
In my sanctuary.
*
Thanks for reading!
Author's Notes: So, yesterday I attempted a romantic micro that dived head-first into depravity. I am pleased with how it turned out, but I still needed to do something a bit more positive and romantic. Therefore, the above is my almost reverse, sister-companion piece to The Walk.
The name and recurring theme of a woman being a sanctuary are more than a little influenced by the iconic She Sells Sanctuary by the underrated British rockers, The Cult.
About the Creator
Paul Stewart
Award-Winning Writer, Poet, Scottish-Italian, Subversive.
The Accidental Poet - Poetry Collection out now!
Streams and Scratches in My Mind coming soon!
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Comments (15)
This definitely took the high road of romance and it is beautifully done, but both are quite meritorious in their own respects!!
A beautiful & stunning contrast.
'She—my sparkling bismuth.' GORGEOUS!
There’s something quite amazing about real love - where nothing is expected in return and they make you feel whole. I thought this was beautiful. (Please tell me this one wasn’t about Ghislaine and Jeffrey?!??)
I loved this! There's something deeply kind about pulling someone back from the ledge with love and compassion. This whole poem just reads very softly and I loved it! Much more positively romantic than its sister piece lol
Love- cure for a traumatized heart
Oh, I love it! I wasn't sensing anything sinister about this one, haha. Turned out to be such a sweet and wholesome little story, one which is perfect for a crushed soul and damaged heart. Having such a sanctuary in a person is so real, and it's nice to picture the cracks in one's being come together again. I'm always impressed when writers are able to tell such an emotion-packed story in so few words. Nicely written; nicely woven, Paul. :)
Well-wrought! The Cult are always a good listen!
Beautiful work as always. Love this and the Cult ❤️
Yea I don't think she nursed him back to life. I mean, look at the cover photo. Her eyes tell me that she's plotting to kill him 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Loved your poem! 🍩🥐
So beautiful, Paul <3 I love the Cult
One for the books and in trying to understand what love is really about. Good job.
So deep and emotional, Paul! You really bring out the beauty of being seen in the darkness.
Dark, spooky and sexy!
Ah Paul, You truly amaze me with the breadth of your skill, and depth of your talent. I like that you saw something you wished to change and you did.