Sylvia, Sylvia
do you remember
our reflective walks
in that mirrored universe
you were then calling home?
under our prism/prison bell jar, eating
lotus flower cakes,
discussing the playfulness of the grim reaper,
when ushering in
that child-eyed gasp of death
pointing bony finger; this one comes – that one stays
then
I shared
my slashes; rips against dangerous
memories; red zaggedness
hidden by layers of chunky, junky
bracelets
You said “each bead a story; each bead a drop of blood”
You said, “we are the phoenix; see the ashes of our decay”
I took the broom from your shaking hands
and swept up the cold, unforgiving
embers; remnants of our beings, out into the world
I said “we are artists of death
so long as
seduction of self-combustion remains”
A stream of consciousness write in response to Yves’ Sunday Writing Prompt: Lady Lazarus/Sylvia Path.
Lorraine's frilly freudian slip 
October 1, 2018 at 12:37 pm
This is amazing – the SoCs is so effective – the conversation is exquisite – simple and straightforward and yet deeply layered – and really, word perfect. I think you’ve done a superb job with this – and I like how you both “mock” the lessons, the harshness of death, of the “grim reaper” – yet also fully address the deeper issues, how “grim” one’s reality in failed attempts can be more than what is perceived as an easier out – and how of course, most people fear death etc. You’ve let truths speak here, which, if one were to try to “work” a piece – most likely would end up hidden and buried for “self-censorship, critiques etc.” … and this, is partly why, in my opinion, this piece speaks so strongly.
(and even if were not to be particularly linked/directed to the specific prompt – it stands strong, on its own)
and on a lighter note? Happy International Coffee Day ~ October 1st. Enjoy a rich, deep cuppa to lift the spirits :D
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October 4, 2018 at 8:59 pm
I did drink a cuppa Joe while reading your comments!
I’m back, days later now, still thinking about what you said. Letting the ideas percolate; marinate. I riffed off Sylvia’s vibe — not only in this poem about being Lady Lazarus, but did the quick “Wikipedia” to refresh my memory of the bell jar.
How we almost die by accident as children, live, so try to destroy ourselves as adults. The idea of the holocaustal taking of lives — the choosing as the cattle cars emptied out — as uneasy as the grim reaper’s stirrings. Why now; not then. The battle scars across wrists — of survival, the phoenix and self-combustion.
Your are so correct. These SoC pieces — the write outta my head/writing in the raw often are with my self editor shut down. I check for typos, might change a word, but not an idea. Often the only way I can write. Trying becomes frustration.
Thank you for your input, and suggesting this stands as a piece, based/riffed off a poem, a prompt, yet resonating beyond the challenge/the task.
Hope you had a good cuppa joe too.
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October 7, 2018 at 11:03 am
It’s definitely a complex piece – the Plath poem – and I really like how you walked with it – and where it landed and ended, for you – really, you did a very fine job. :)
and yup, sometimes the pure, right outta onto the page, screen, whatever – actually does yield some of the most powerful stuff – precisely because the censor hasn’t had time to start shouting ….
so whatever works as it does, does …. and yes, sometimes, trying to word wrangle just becomes too much and wrecks more than actually letting things rest and coming back to things :)
(drinking coffee again – a jolt and pain management 😞)
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October 12, 2018 at 6:43 am
You’re swilling coffee like I do — must be a rough day!
Funny how our writing patterns (not the words themselves, but the process) morphs. The spontaneous flash of self-combustable writing comes less often. Writing becomes tiresome when it’s work — at least these days when I write more than I post. When certain characters or themes don’t want to be written about, they get stubborn and refuse to “give” me the words to express the idea. They become the censors, strangely, not my self-editor. Been finding this lately with head-never-to-be-written-down stories, too.
Guess it’s another transitional phase . . .
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October 12, 2018 at 8:37 pm
I answered in an email (not knowing you had shared this here too!) but it’s all okay :)
sometimes characters are petulant – so let them be so; and work/write around them … or ignore them (nothing pisses them off more than that ;) ) … but writing is work – hard too – most of the time, so hey, given the nature of “all of it” – just slow slice your time into manageable bits – that should help ease it somewhat.
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September 30, 2018 at 10:26 pm
This is an excellent response Lorraine, she impacted on so many lives and I like the reflections you make.
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October 4, 2018 at 9:01 pm
Thank you, Michael. And to think I never studied her in school — only came to her after out of curiosity. Yes, she did have an impact and one that is perhaps forgotten now? I don’t know — do people still read the Bell Jar? I hope so.
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October 4, 2018 at 9:06 pm
I think you’ll find her in most school libraries these days. I taught the Ted Hughes anthology to our seniors and that was eye opening in terms of his opinion of Sylvia. Hope you are doing well.
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