Life Save Me From Hell


At Real Toads Izy had us watch this video for inspiration. I saw it in the wee hours of the morning and then immediately thought, "What the hell can I do with what I just saw? The following is what plenty of coffee and lack of sleep created. 



Wake me from this death
of drugs that eats my hope.
I swallowed vanity’s pill
to bow to a camera flash.

This graveyard path is lined
with carved stones littered
with mourning bouquets
waiting to be placed on my breast.

The drying roses assault my nose
with their messages to a mannequin
painted to masque the reality
flesh has the pallor of despair.

Grim reaper I hear you searching
for the last chink in my armor.
Your teeth tear the threads of faith
clinging to the woman I once was.

Life save me from this hell I hold in my palm.
I wish to shed this skin of hallucinations.
If there is a seed of escape planted to grow resolve,
let it find fertile ground I cannot poison.



©Susie Clevenger 2013


Comments

Kerry O'Connor said…
I think you have turned the surreal images into a potent metaphor. Wow! I felt these lines, and the theme is so relevant.

The drying roses assault my nose with their messages to a mannequin painted to masque the reality flesh has the pallor of despair.

Excellent work, Susie. Amazing what may transpire from the subconscious from unusual promptings.
Susan said…
Yikes. You slay me! Life as a mannequin is no life at all. Beneath Beauty's skin lies the beast. But redemption at any cost? This is the kind of Hell carved into medieval church doors.
Kay L. Davies said…
"Wow" is right, Susie. I think I'm glad I didn't read this before bed, but I'm glad you did, letting it simmer in order to be brought out by coffee.
A fabulous write.
K
Susie Clevenger said…
@Thank you Kerry. The video brought images to me of drug addiction and its descent into a life of hell.
Susie Clevenger said…
@Susan, Thank you...I think. lol I think all the ancient tombstones in the video brought out the goth in me.
Susie Clevenger said…
@Kay, thank you! When I watched it around 1:30 a.m. I couldn't fathom what I could do with it. Morning and coffee led the way. :)
Anonymous said…
Susie, so glad to read this in the late afternoon. Your connection to the theme of addiction is so apt. You incorporated so many images and sensory details, right from the start. Powerful poem!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Patricia, thank you. I have seen the pain and horror of addiction too often.
Fireblossom said…
This is as wild as the clip that inspired it!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Fireblossom, thanks!
Hannah said…
I agree with Kerry and the last two lines are what struck me...deeply profound...there were some pretty cool messages tied into all that madness and you tapped into them!!
Maggie Grace said…
Amazing poetry. You were definitely inspired. I guess we all went a little bit to a dark place to find the inspiration in the video. I bow to you.
Isadora Gruye said…
Love the perspective you brought to this Susie! The connection to addiction I think is so insightful (but then again, you always write smartly). I like how you took that and built this hymn around it. Thanks for watching and then writing, sorry if it made your morning a little more um...french new wave cinema-y!!!
Susie Clevenger said…
@Hannah, thank you. The more I watched the video the more the words just seem to come together.

@Maggie Grace, the video just seem to lead us to the dark side. Thank you!

@Izy, thank you. I certainly didn't expect what would be in that video. I am glad I accepted the challenge...at least I didn't have to rhyme. lol
Lisa Williams said…
What a powerful portrait of addiction, wonderfully composed.
Maude Lynn said…
This packs some power! Love that killer close.
hedgewitch said…
Agree with MZ--the ending in this cuts to the bone and the perspective, while completely unique, seems to carry the same sens of 'wrongness' and separation from normal reality as the clip--and drugs--induce. Really enjoyed where your brain wandered with this one, Susie--it's spot on.
Marian said…
yikes, Susie, WAKE UP! WAKE UP!
Susie Swanson said…
Powerful write Susie. Sometimes it's hard to live emotions like that but it's a must... Thanks for sharing this. hugs,xo
Unknown said…
Wow. What a great job of approach such a delicate subject. I've danced around the edges before but never hit it so succinctly - well done :)