|
If Death Was a Man*
by Kristine BrieseThe speed with which
I come undone astounds me.
My mind zips off
into the stratosphere,
trailing poison and
chanting lists of
sins, shortcomings
and lethalities,
a chorus in three voices.
My body, cow-heavy and tense,
thrums with a ridiculous rage,
jittering my hands so
they can't hold my weapons.
If death was a man
I would know what to do.
I would lay myself
bare beneath him,
give myself to him
as freely as I did
to the red-handed man,
open myself wide to
welcome his whims,
take him into myself
and let him own me.
* Published in the July 2002 issue of Stirring
08/01/2002 Posted on 08/01/2002
Copyright © 2024 Kristine Briese
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Rommel Cruz on 11/27/02 at 03:03 PM Amazing. =) |
| Posted by Rusty C Arquette on 12/22/02 at 04:22 AM I understand why this was published...It is poetry - The kind of work we all aspire to; the clean economy of word moving the reader through the images, the emotions, with grace and purpose - Wonderful - RCat |
| Posted by Jeanne Marie Hoffman on 08/13/03 at 11:54 PM It flows without a single halting word. I would almost say the structure is flawless |
| Posted by Vimal Rony on 08/20/03 at 08:32 PM Oh yeah i told ya u are very talented and what a vision and what an angle and what a wonderfully thought out and written poem! |
| Posted by Don Coffman on 08/21/03 at 07:54 AM Completely amazing, definitely something that deserves to be published. This kind of writing skill is something I can only wish for. |
| Posted by Michele Schottelkorb on 08/22/03 at 01:25 PM it's fitting this was published in "stirring"... as it is that.... stirring and mesmerizing and deliciously bold... great write... blessings... |
| Posted by Max Bouillet on 08/23/03 at 03:18 PM Whew! What a poem. Your word choice was exquisite and perfect. The scene you portray unfolds itself in such an honest and (for men) painful way that it really leaves an impression. Great read. |
| Posted by Jim Moore on 07/28/07 at 05:50 AM I can see why Stirring published this piece. It's wonderful, Kristine. |
| Posted by Joan Serratelli on 03/13/09 at 03:36 PM Absolutely amazing piece. I love the personification of death being a man (and your lover nonetheless) The last 11 lines were perfect. This is an example of what a great poem is. |
| Posted by Roger J Kenyon on 11/08/10 at 09:07 PM Awesome as my oldest grandson would say, which says it all for me about this fine poem. |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 12/08/15 at 05:22 AM Congrats on POTD Kristine...well deserved! |
| Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 12/08/15 at 12:22 PM congratulations. If death were a man, I'd know what to do, which would be to try and beat him off with urging of fisticuffs, save death is not a man, but a woman, to whom I willingly succumb, all the while coming undone. |
| Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 12/08/15 at 03:51 PM I'm very glad to have read this. Congrats on POTD! |
|
