Home   Home

Toes

by Rachel C Johnson

I envelop myself in sand
and I hope it could swallow me,
but I can’t dig deep enough
and the suffocation is stifled.
I can see my toes above the surface
wiggling with spasm to release
themselves from the weight
I’ve taken on.

And when I pull myself from the
grasp of beach and tide, my toes
remain uncovered, unblemished,
unadorned with the grains that seep
into the crevices of my body
and weaken my breath.

It is they who carry me
to the bathhouse to find a
shower. It is they who take me
to the wardrobe where I dress.
It is they who create my movement
and force me forward with inch-steps,
twitches, convincing me with wiggles
that I should continue further.

I miss the sand some days,
the feeling of my toes above the surface;
for when I stand upright
the weight of all my burdens
falls to my toes.

05/12/2005

Posted on 05/12/2005
Copyright © 2010 Rachel C Johnson

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Max Bouillet on 05/12/05 at 10:21 PM

Toes hold the burden of the soul... brilliant concept with fresh imagery. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by Charlie Morgan on 06/07/05 at 08:06 AM

...never thought of toes this way either, sucking yeah, but not all the nuances you've added...mmm thoughtful[read: heavy]universal piece all brought about by your toes... ;-0...peace, chaz

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.1 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 2 member(s) and 16 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2010 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)