Grave Diggers of the Abandoned

 

Photography by Rosalind Solomon

One woman’s trash is another’s bounty.
The ekphrastic images hold the soul, fingerprint,
story of letting go of what held a soul to memories.

Eyes of ink envision silent screams framed
in art, broken cups, and the cigarette-stained ghosts
smothering the once bright light of new joy.

Voices of rooms walk along fingertips that clutch
the bones of life hollowed into unwanted artifacts.
There are a thousand imaginations pulsing in a hand’s grip,
yet truth is a phantom chased, repurposed into a lie
if necessary to find a new home for orphaned belongings. 

In the valley of smog-stained windows loss 
is as perpetual as the sound of traffic, neon stars,
and sirens smothering the sparrow song of daylight.

Grave diggers of the abandoned still possess a bit
of rose tint in their eyes and see beauty, rebirth, 
purpose in the mausoleums of gritty sidewalk debris. 

©Susie Clevenger 2022



Comments

Fireblossom said…
It's certainly all in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?
Carrie Van Horn said…
Yes, it is that way with so many things. This poem holds so many strong images Susie! Your poetry always digs deep and stirs the soul.
qbit said…
"One woman’s trash is another’s bounty." that is for sure!!! Well penned.
Dora said…
Much like what we salvage of the past, to others just junk. Love the way you weave the imagery together around this photograph, Susie.
Helen said…
You had me at "images hold the soul" for I have forever believed it. A luscious poem, beautifully composed, Susie.
Love this outlook, Susie!

"Voices of rooms walk along fingertips that clutch
the bones of life hollowed into unwanted artifacts."