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A Living Epitaph

by Max Bouillet

Your sex bleeds into
the crevice
where my soul
once hid.

(Tongued from its fragile fold,
I haven’t seen it since it passed
those puckered lips.)

Now there is tattooed skin
stretched taut over
gravestones and the
echo of erotic whispers
hovering over
rigid flesh.

But the promise of passion
is broken and the slapping of bodies
has become an exercise
to alleviate cramping
and to elicit belches
from a bloated belly
that fills the air
with angel feathers
and pitch-forks.

(Once again, I am reminded of
how lonely
my shoulders
have become.)

If words are defined
by their impact,
then the evolution of your words
is the history of my soul.

Fire, knives, and thorazine.

08/31/2004

Author's Note: I falter and am scattered.

Posted on 09/01/2004
Copyright © 2024 Max Bouillet

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Ginette T Belle on 09/01/04 at 02:55 PM

"If words are defined by their impact, then the evolution of your words is the history of my soul."...powerful, meaningful line...wow, this poem made me step back and slowly absorb and take in every word, every phrase...i read over and over and drink in more and more..you've spilled your soul in this and it was worth every drop...thank you

Posted by Graeme Fielden on 09/01/04 at 02:55 PM

so raw it virtually drips with blood...Nice work Max :)

Posted by Rachelle Howe on 09/01/04 at 04:50 PM

dude, f*ck yeah. bring it on. scattered or none, it still slices flesh.

Posted by Scott Cadence on 09/01/04 at 08:12 PM

We have to sometimes reinvent ourselves to keep passion from breaking down into process. You did a great job in capturing those stagnant feelings -the deadening of the light inside. Nice work. Hope all goes well... best - SC.

Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 09/02/04 at 02:54 AM

"Raw" is the right word! Self revelation? Or just a phase? Passion, interestingly enough, begins with words. Finding the right ones to rekindle the flame. You effectively use both body and mind in juxtaposition.

Posted by Lori Johnson on 09/02/04 at 05:27 PM

Raw, yes. Vulnerable, yes. Powerful, memorable. I don't know, Max. I can not find the words to tell you what this poem drew from me. But, whoa. Whoa, I am floored. Amazing, painful, perfect. You can't hear it, but I am clapping. ;)

Posted by Kate Demeree on 09/02/04 at 10:21 PM

WOW..... the intensity of this poem is scorching! Superb!

Posted by Traci Mabats on 09/03/04 at 04:48 AM

right, I say who needs 'em Max! Lets go out for drinks and dance our cares away. Or look like idiots. Either way works for me.

Posted by Lindsay Sanders on 09/04/04 at 06:15 AM

incredibly powerful & outstandingly well written. the last three stanzas had me reading them over & over, feeling the slicing of your words each time. this is excellent max.

Posted by David R Spellman on 09/04/04 at 11:35 AM

Potently brutal and speaking volumes in richly composed fashion. Excellent!

Posted by Christina Bruno on 09/05/04 at 07:34 PM

max this is brilliant! superb...raw. fresh...great ;D

Posted by JD Clay on 09/08/04 at 03:11 AM

You've convinced me to stick around just to see how this all plays out. Killer last line, Max...pe4ce

Posted by Maryellen Lebeda-Parra on 09/25/04 at 01:30 AM

this is all too familiar for me ... to the point that i can't even find the words to compliment you. but i am sure you know.

Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 09/27/04 at 01:14 PM

a poet takes out his heart and expresses himself rather convincingly. and the byproduct is that the readership is effected. what more can you ask of poet?

Posted by Michelle Floyd on 02/01/05 at 02:05 PM

I am in love with every part of this. Thank you for catching my interest. I hope we can have poetic conversations some day.

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