Dust Calls

Tomorrow is a closed gate
vined with wilting dreams
my tears can no longer water.

Joy and sorrow are sisters
standing at my bedside
counting breaths until
dust calls for flesh and bone.

I feel my life fleeing hushed and
gentle like the gazelle
to a soon chiseled epitaph.

I am not afraid…the moon
waits to cradle me in its smile.


©Susie Clevenger 2014

Grace at Real Toads offered the poetry of Gabriela Mistral as inspiration for our writings. I chose this line "I feel my life fleeing hushed and gentle like the gazelle" from Gabriela's poem, Dusk, as the muse for my poem.

Comments

brudberg said…
The gentleness of the gazelle tied to the dust.. I can actually see it swirling in the sunshine... like a sunlit melancholy life passes.
Sumana Roy said…
I like the smiling acceptance and fearlessness at the end of the long path of joy and sorrow...& love the title ..very appropriate...
Kerry O'Connor said…
Such gorgeous writing - so on point with Mistral's themes but the beauty of expression is yours alone.

Loved this:

Joy and sorrow are sisters
standing at my bedside...(Wish I'd thought of that image)

and loved the finale too.
Helen said…
Perfection .. beautiful rise to Grace's challenge.
Kathryn Dyche said…
There is something about that first stanza that gets to me (in a good way). Love it.
Grace said…
Joy and sorrow are sisters...I love that whole stanza ~ And perfect for the supermoon filled night with that ending ~

Beautifully written Susie ~ Thanks for linking up with Sunday's Challenge & wishing you happy week ~
Beautiful. I especially love the first 2 stanzas...the imagery is powerful and so evocative.