The Revenant

Jo Bryant

I see your eyes in the grasses

taste your smile in the sunlight

feel your touch in the freesias

but the stench of your death

drowns me in its selfishness

forgiveness

perhaps will come

when grief no longer

pelts at my skin

your heart stopped

and left mine dead

forgiveness

perhaps will come

you left

I ask you please…

leave

***

Submitted for Magpie Tales # 82

Published by Jo Bryant

I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.

66 Comments

  15. A very deep and emotion bearing poem that oozes quality I rather like your style my friend, actually I have seen you posting many comments on our WordPress but this is my very first visit to your Space, however I will return here and view more of your work, explore your preceding poems and add my deliberations.

    Do have a most exquisite rest of evening now, perhaps it is still early where you are and I will only know this for sure when I click ‘Post Comment’ so please forgive me if I have made an error in the time zones.

    Androgoth

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    1. So happy to see your gravatar amongst the comments. Love that you love MY style – such a wonderful compliment. Will with much anticipation await the return of you illustrious self…
      🙂

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      1. Thou art too kind my friend…
        and indeed I will be returning to
        your Space on the morrow to
        learn more of your fine poetry,
        and to take a browse into your
        world of blogging…

        Be well my friend…

        Androgoth

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  17. grasses, sunlight and freesias… you introduced this with such pretty things before busting out the bouncer skills:) sounds like a professional way to take someone out.

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  18. I do like the beginning! I tripped over “in its selfishness” – The line might go without that, drowning could stand alone
    and forgiveness could follow.Please forgive my stepping in with that, but the flow would be uninterrupted I think…thanks
    for visiting and your poem!

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    1. Your welcome. Glad you stopped by. Step in all you want. I love hearing what people think works, and what they think doesn’t. Comments like these go a ways in helping me improve my writing skills, so I am grateful for them. 🙂

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  22. I too have “successful” suicide in my life, twice, actually, and a several more in the longer often slower agonizing forms that addiction brings to families. I am sure with the way you addressed the topic that you are not merely observing the troubles of others in the way we can as creative writers. It is also what Revenants are about, this personal nature of the haunt.

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    1. Thank you Christopher – funny – you are the first to well maybe not notice – but to speak of suicide, which is exactly what this poem is about. I am sorry that you have had to go through this. Once is damaging enough – but I can’t imagine how feel.

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  23. Having worked with bereavement groups, I can really appreciate the sentiment you express in this poem. Alongside, or even instead of, sadness, there is anger at being left alone. Time does heal.

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  28. I absolutely loved your poem Jo and the artwork is amazing, really compliments it. Full of emotion and I can feel the anger/resentment from the person left behind. You’re awesome!

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    1. Andre Wyeth painted this self-portrait in 1949 at the Olsen’s Homestead, where he painted ‘Christina’s World’, another masterpiece.
      Thank you for being so kind with your comment.

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  33. you are such a talent, glad to see you write magpie tale, and do beautiful job here.

    Hohoho,

    What charming poetry you have posted here.

    Invite you to share 1 to 3 poems with us, anything could fit the theme of object,

    Cheers.
    Hope to see you in.

    Happy Writing..
    xoxox

    Like

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