literature

conquest

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neonsquiggle's avatar
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Literature Text

throw back this Thursday
to a lifetime ago,
when my bridges were too young
to be fireproof
and I didn't yet know the words
for surrender.

you were my Columbus,
my twisted Magellan,
hands hardened and hungry
for any part of me
that could bear your name.

you sought me and wrought me
dead in the water,
every bloody fingerprint a flag
that marked each brand-new territory
upon my skin -
spread-eagled, supine,
I was greener than grass
and you sent your victory marches
all over me,
steamrolling my rugged edges
and calling me all the kind words for
barbarian.

throw back this Thursday
to a lifetime ago -
people aren't supposed to fall
like leaves;
you aren't supposed to pile them up
and burn them.

throw back this Thursday
to a lifetime ago -
before ache upon ache
was tattooed on these bones;
before my voice knew how to beg
for mercy.

and even now,
I say grace when I am called
to remember you.

and even now,
I am naive enough
to still be so grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving, kids.

|| Let's play a game called: see if you can find the double meanings!
First poem in a long while. Critique, please!
© 2014 - 2024 neonsquiggle
Comments11
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DeiSophia's avatar
Really well executed! The ambiguity is very clever, and I loved the interplay of the concepts of exploration and conquest, as well as the final contextualisation being given by a very modern phrase.
Brilliant!