Thursday 1 November 2012

The ghost of you





-moonless night-
not a leaf nor limb
swayed in breeze 

I heard you breathing at the window

-stained ink- 
mug beside empty chair 
and upturned book

At first the goodbye had a lilt to it—
maybe just a couple of months—
but it was a beheading 

-sword slow motion-
crumbling inching-bit,     
i wanted 

quick death



Lines from Ghost Elephant by Jean Valentine


Posted for:   Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Hallow's Edge
and Poetry Jam:   Choices
and Flash Fiction Friday - a post in 55 words - for the G-man 


                                                               picture credit:   here

42 comments:

  1. Wow this is insanely awesome Heaven. I love the sadness tinged with love that eventually fades as time goes by, it's such a beautiful piece of writing, the concept of being haunted by the ghost of a lover is an amazing one even if you look at the ghost as being symbolic, reading this has made my morning Heaven, all I can say is wow!

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    1. Thank you for the lovely words and visit Matthew ~

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  2. Haunting... sad...beautiful. Wanting a quick death in separation but instead, suffering the agony of broken lover's heartache.
    Good stuff Heaven.

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  3. yes!!!

    powerfully dark! i absolutely love the words you've chosen to depict this wonderfully haunting moment. nice. very!

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  4. oy yeah, give it to me quick rather than slow....dont leave a bit of hope to haunt me....very nice grace, evocative....

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    1. You always get what I'm trying to say Brian ~ Thank you for the support and encouragement ~

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  5. written with last breath... or so it seems...

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    1. Not yet Dez ~ Thanks for the visit and treats at your show ~

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  6. Your quoted words fit seamlessly into the finished product - another wowzer from you, Heaven.

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  7. Sweetly cruel-what a great mix.

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  8. Ooooooo, this oozes 'haunt.'

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    1. The picture does the trick too ~ Thanks Helen ~

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  9. Ewwwww!
    But in a good way
    The transition from ghost to lover gone was like the window opening.
    (((shiver)))

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    1. I used ghost as a metaphor rather than an actual one ~ Thanks for the visit Rick ~

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  10. Intense mood, perfectly portrayed. Great writing, kiddo.

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    1. Thanks Sherry ~ Your real life ghost story was chilling too ~

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  11. Love that forever haunts the memory and the heart. Thank you, Heaven.

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  12. A haunting and captivating write Heaven! :-)

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  13. lopped right off! good one :)

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  14. Text as swirling as the ghostly veil.

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  15. Wow this is very intense and haunting to me. Excellent picture to go with it as well. Really sets a mood.

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  16. Oh my. We really don't want that to be slow.

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  17. This had such a Poe-ish feel to it Grace.
    Great post for the season.
    The prodigal daughter has returned!
    Loved your decapitaing 55
    Thanks for playing, you are always a Classy Treat.
    Have a Kick Ass Week-End

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  18. Spooky good, indeed! Like the image too.

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  19. Whew, a bit eerie....but then again it was just Halloween!! Thanks for taking part in Poetry Jam.

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  20. Haunting and sad are the worst goodbyes.

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  21. Dark and haunting~ It had a breathless feel...the photo added so much~

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  22. Yikes! Very creepy one (in a good way).

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  23. hauntingly beautiful! that numb feeling only makes one think of ending his/her life ad soon, quickly!

    weekend hugs xoxo

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  24. There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.
    As spirits roam the neighborhoods at night,
    Let loose upon the Earth till it be light...

    Have a great weekend, stay warm and keep a song in your heart.
    Best regards.
    Lee.

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  25. i can think of a time or two when i felt like a quick death would be better than what i was actually facing. great poem, Heaven!

    thanks for participating at Poetry Jam!

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  26. Wow nice piece! Up turned or overturned book ?-I viewed it splayed
    over the the arm- and then had to stop and think...

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  27. Very dark and spooky atmosphere in this!

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  28. Sometimes the slow endings are the most painful. Nice dual meanings here!

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  29. Great take on the picture prompt. You wrote some stuff out of Criminal Minds and you truly rock this!! Great stuff, Heaven. Mine is here
    Have you a TRULY BLESSED WEEK!!!
    hugs
    shakira

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  30. Wow. A bit late I am, but this still sends chills. Yes, sometimes a quick ending is best. Awesome write.

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~