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.

Sunday Mini-challenge ~ Gabriela Mistral

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.
August 11, 2014 at 2:43 AM
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...
August 11, 2014 at 6:44 AM
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.
August 11, 2014 at 9:39 AM
Helen said…
Perfection .. beautiful rise to Grace's challenge.
August 11, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Kathryn Dyche said…
There is something about that first stanza that gets to me (in a good way). Love it.
August 11, 2014 at 2:13 PM
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 ~
August 11, 2014 at 6:02 PM
Wordifull Melanie said…
Beautiful. I especially love the first 2 stanzas...the imagery is powerful and so evocative.
August 13, 2014 at 8:25 PM
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