skeletons

A rigid framework
that provides protection,
structure surrounded by skin
that encloses vital organs,
attachment points for muscles
that grant leverage;
source of
our own blood.

A long dark tunnel
with flashing green lights at the end
leading you to a large chamber –
an auditorium
where on a stage
a tall human skeleton dances,
the sound of bones on wood
clip clop, clip clop
a wild frenzied dance
hot and dry without sweat.

Both fused and individual bones
supplemented by
ligaments, tendons, cartilage;
a scaffold to support organs
protecting brain, lungs,
and heart.

You see strings;
this skeleton does not really dance
each move is the pull of a string
a clever shift here
an adroit sweep there
all done with skill and grace
by a hidden manipulator;
so you step closer to the stage
and follow the strings upward
into the shadows,
you see another skeleton
peering down at you
with empty eye sockets
that glow green.

– matt at shadow of iris

  • Share/Bookmark
This entry was posted in poem and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to skeletons

  1. Susie says:

    Ooh Matt, chilling. Happy not to have read prior to sleepy slumber.

  2. Matt says:

    Thanks!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>