written for The Sunday Muse #243
knock knock she's at the door with her come wings like apprehension cabbage moths in alabaster flood in lieu of hello she hands me a paper “Bandaged thought. Isthmus birthing butterflies. Wings plough rainbows. Blood is hammer. Evolve the grey.” my heart like a frightened bird my bone and skin prison aviary of woman knock knock I’m caught fallen leaves and crimson dust a fishhook of clouds
Out of the Cave 
Wonderful. I especially like the lines, “with her come wings / like apprehension” and “Isthmus birthing butterflies.”
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Thank you Bob!
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What an incredible piece.
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Thank you!
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There’s something about “in lieu of hello she hands me a paper” that seems to ominous.
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Yes. This poem sort of arose out of a conversation I had with a friend in which we imagined a poem written as a telegram. Originally the part in inverted commas was written with the word “stop” instead of full stops. But as the poem grew, that device felt too artificial and not relevant. But I think of how ominous telegrams would’ve been in war time and I think that’s where the mood came from.
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Without realising, I seemed to pick up on that. Interesting.
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Those first lines are so gorgeous that I could not help but follow where they lead! This is a wonderful poem Jo and I especially love the idea of bandaged thought!
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Thank you, Carrie!
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Wow, she’s the frenemy you want to remember to not invite. This made me shiver, Jo.
–Shay
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ha ha. this poem is supposed to be about my failure to be feminist for most of my life. I’m not sure I got that across.
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The wings here feel like a shadow of doom. I think I called you Susan before. My apologies, Jo.
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Very very cool. “cabbage moths” and “a fishhook of clouds ” – really great.
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“I’m caught
fallen leaves and
crimson dust ”
Love this!
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