This Castle Is a Charnel House
the queen of hearts
prepares her death nest,
calling upon names
etched in a bedside table,
dream notes carved
into an antique,
marring it unforgettable
every sunbeam covers her
in barbed body armor,
crown of nettles burrowing
into a creased forehead,
marks of the years, brittle
from all the shuffling
scarring her once stoic face
cards of defeat lie upon
her desk, face up, well-
wishes sprinkled amongst
dried flowers & practitioners’
names, a puzzle she’ll never
piece together because
there is no time left for planning
ahead or otherwise, a head
of household, matriarchal
moon, too tired to rule
wants only to lie down
with knaves & spades
of bygone memories
while the king looks on
forlorn & helpless, scepter
rusted with tears, he’s
saying goodbye with silence;
she can’t look at him, her luck
of the draw, an ace amongst
jokers, her companion,
well-suited & strong
night is falling & stars
begin rehearsing her requiem,
they’ll sing her to her final
sleep someday & she is nearly
ready, a few more feathers,
twigs, & good days to pillow
her body so the shedding
of everything can begin
Wow, Jennifer! So cool and so incredibly crafted! Truly love this one! 👏😲
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you 💜
LikeLike
P.S. ❤️🤗❤️ for yesterday’s post. (It would only let me leave a star instead of a genuine heart.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate violating your intentionally-closed comments, but if I were there and your door was locked, I’d slip my single paper heart underneath. ❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s ok! Sometimes I just forget to turn them on.
LikeLike
You definitely have dark writing for a happy person lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Releasing it is a tool for survival.
LikeLiked by 3 people
In that case carry on. 👍🤜
LikeLike
i say “Queen” to this in every way. 💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha. Thanks. 💜👸🏼
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow. I’m curious— did a deck of cards really inspire this?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not exactly. 😊 It’s actually kind of funny. I was watching that show When Calls the Heart & the saloon is named “Queen of Hearts”. I saw the sign & the first line jumped in my head. The rest just came once I wrote it down. The poem has nothing to do with the show though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Truly, inspiration strikes when you least expect it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
💖 Such beauty you hew from the rockface of pain 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤ you Monty
LikeLike
Fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much ❤
LikeLike
Very well written👌🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Most welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
Always welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
The poem is so inventive and deep! And the sound is also so good! Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person