29 September 2012

I want to know, Mr. Poe


Desperate to have him with me
I bought a bust of Pallas Athena
to put over my study door
I bought a bright red cushion
to sit center while I weep and sigh
and languish for his true love

I miss him enough to seek
supernatural help, and hope
he will walk in even as an owl
to hoot "who" whenever I say
I cannot let him go again ever
that I rue the unfair year apart

Before he died, that unfair year 
when we were too angry to stay 
and too stubborn to speak while
never wanting nor hurting more
and then, the heart attack came
and took him with no goodbyes 

O, Mr. Poe, tell me about the year
before you  lost your Leonore
Were you sweet?  Did you speak?
Did you embrace and kiss her face?
Or were you more like an angry crow
with no wits to know how fast it goes?

And most of all, Mr. Poe, I want to know
whether your Raven became welcome
or no?  Was it forever punishment,
or is it reward?  Was it inner or outer, 
called or sent . . .  I have to know!  What 
meant the bird?  Relief or horror?

I'm leaning here on my pillow waiting
for the knock I know will come, and I
will have him near again, my dear,
whatever your answer.  The wind 
ceases, the day leaves, and I sense a
presence just beyond my door, now

I'm leaning here on my pillow, staring
at Athena's bust.  Did she hear a knock,
I wonder?  Did I?  The hairs on my arms
did, I am certain.  It is time to open the door--
and yet I lean here and hesitate to go
What is there to fear, I want to know . . . 






Posted for Fireblossom Friday: Do You Believe In Magic? on Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads, where Fireblossom asks us to write something of which Edgar Allan Poe would be proud.   I have written to Mr. Poe as the author of "The Raven" and perhaps the lover of a lost Leonore.


Copyright © 2012 S.L.Chast 

Revised and Submitted to Poets and writerss 9/27/2013




17 comments:

  1. Certainly a touch of Poe in your writing...the fear of what lies outside a closed door. I wonder what he would tell you if he could appear.

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  2. Spine-tingly, Susan. Very Edgar A., and I think he would like what you have set down here to make him proud!
    K

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  3. literally got shivers with this one, Susan! quite magical!

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  4. He would love to hear, Edgar Allan Poe, with all his writings. Or he might come to appear in our imagination providing the inspiration to make our next posting! Expectations can translate into reality! Nicely Susan!\

    Hank

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  5. oh this is really good susan...i love the ref to poe and your ponderings on him...and on athena mixed with the story of the narrator as well...ha...great scene and well played out....

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  6. Enjoyed the details you captured about Poe. There is something very eerie him. Not sure I would enjoy summoning him back! Smiles.

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  7. I like that you considered what it might have been which inspired Poe to write about the macabre.

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  8. Frightening and very sad at the same time.

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  9. What a great read this is, Susan! Great mix of literary reference and real life.........and the fear of answering the knock at the door.........eery and totally Poe-like! Will there be a sequel? hee hee.

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  10. Ahh.... very deep and eerie. Why is it we do what we do and then (maybe) spend years regretting what we didn't do to fix it. I like how you pose the questions knowing that there will never be any answers yet still, the questions remain.
    Really very good piece Susan.

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  11. Interesting questions, Susan and so very eery... POEish! :-)

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  12. The hairs on my arm are certain that Poe would be quite proud of this poem! Chilling and intense. This makes me curious, as well, about the mystery behind his words.

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  13. It is probably just someone selling aluminum siding, but one never knows. Thanks for being part of FBF, Susan.

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  14. thought i saw a new post....but hey it gave me reason to stop in and say hello....hope you had a good weekend susan...smiles.

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  15. Nice take Susan ~ A little eerie and chilling ...will you open the door ? ~

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  16. The tension builds even as we learn the story of longing. Well done!

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