Circling the edge of the radiant heat
Bones crack, spewing repugnant steam
Faces, names, sensations; I offer all up now
Empty out my heart of fear, stack up kindling, log, and bough
With each turn, I summon another moment in time
Toss it on, sizzling like water doused lime
I watch each replaying horror consumed in the bonfire
Ash clouds bloom, against the night, climbing ever higher
My guttural cry rising to an ululating chant
Creeping hands piloting knees in a marionette dance
I yank in time, skipping, and twirling to the beat
Dust flinging and clouding, round my frantic feet
I dare not swerve from my circuitous path
Never making progress, but not glancing back
The arcane ritual exercises every ghost and deviltry
Liberating me body and soul, to wander the earth free
Swaying, ecstatic, coals throw a warm glow across my beaded brow
With the last wisp of smoke, I collapse, spent, on the ground
I dip a finger in the ash, swipe streaks down my face and neck
A stark reminder of the life I left
K.B. Silver
About the Creator
K.B. Silver
K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.
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More stories from K.B. Silver and writers in Poets and other communities.
CH 14~ A Resounding Triumph
After a year of uncertainty, sparsity, and Unpleasantness, the Eidru Empire was getting back into full swing. Dretuary seventh (the eighth month) marked the official end to the most stringent restrictions. Border control was relaxed, allowing properly vetted parties through the Imperial borders, and internal travel within the Empire was open to the Nobility, Merchants, and properly papered laypeople once again. Patrols were still in place, but curfews were set back to midnight across the board.
By K.B. Silver Exclusive β’ about a month ago
Fair Exchange, No Robberies
Dark Memoirs - Index There are at least two kinds of people in the world: those who write this half-arsed kind of intro to a story that looks to separate the rare and the norm, and those who realise it's an overused framing device and don't.
By Paul Stewart6 days ago in Chapters
Comments (2)
Ohhh this one is raw! Some chapters donβt close gently βsome have to be burned down so the smoke can finally clear. And you wrote that truth perfectly.π
Oooh, love this. Brilliant sense of motion and of change Feels cathartic.