Ashes

I tug at the necklace that hangs like a noose

Twisting and untwisting the strands between

As though gathering strength from within

Like an amateur acrobat on a deadly trapeze

–

It’s Lapis Lazuli, he had said with a grin

Tying it around my soft bulky neck

The beads, like your eyes, the deepest blue

With those gold streaks that glowed when you were sad

–

Mawkish and uncomfortable, I try not to balk

The smell of brimstone piercing my nostrils

I can’t bear to see him, I can’t bear to look away

I imagine all the blood that’s left his body, leaving only serum

–

He’d enabled me to perform his last rites

Much to the chagrin of his conniving ex-wife

He hadn’t wanted a coffin lowered down by unsteady hands

No ringside spectators examining his obsolescence

Ashes to ashes, he said, not dust to dust

By the coast of Cyprus, where we first met

He wished to lay in peace in that black earth.

–

On that last day, he held my hand tight

Those navy eyes moist, golden flecks sparked

He said “Darling, fate’s been cruel this time around,”

“But I will wait for you to find me, in my next life”

–

Dear Readers,

I’m catching up on all the cool Mind Love Misery’s Menagerie word prompts that I missed in the previous weeks. Here is my response to Wordle #86

The prompt words were as follows:

1.Cyprus

2. Ringside

3. Lapis Lazuli

4. Brimstone

5. Coffin

6. Hands

7. Acrobat

8. Strength

9. Mawkish (characterized by sickly sentimentality; weakly emotional; maudlin. Having amildly sickening flavor; slightly nauseating.)

10. Serum

11. Obsolescence (the state, process, or condition of being or becoming obsolete.)

12. Enable

Use at least 10 of the words to create a story or poem (these are hard!)

The words can appear in an alternate form

Use the words in any order that you like.

 

Thanks for reading 🙂