You lost your grip on reality around the same time
my own dalliance with death disturbed the rafters
my shoulders of a man, yours of a sparrow
we danced around amber whiskey bottles
setting fire to tarmac
lifting our skirts before silver ash enveloped us
but maybe I didn’t clean my feet well enough
you began to tremble in the morning
and I found I could not move
it was as if a deer had been startled
standing quite still in dried grass
he was frozen in situ
for a time I wanted to break out
resume merriment and three penny carnival
until the feeling of falling inside
behind the bones of your face
where all emotion blanches and traces
secrets and lies
became my norm
I did not know anymore
how to stir cocktails of polite acquaintance
or make small talk trace like sleepy snails
I did not know anymore
what became of my social graces
pinned and folded beneath me like taffeta
it gave me comfort to
lose my art of conversation
the yawning maw of fraternization
I listened to words and they did not
beckon me come closer
I felt as strange as the outdoor moth
who half wishes he did not
slap against warm glass trying to
eat the light
for it is not you he seeks
but the burn and blitz of some fantastic
singeing his wings in tattoo
and I too
had always yearned for that feeling
never discovered among the feeding troughs
of social intercourse
and once or twice I left
a full and heaving party
to lift my legs for a stranger in
cramped confine
because the hard bang and knock of his
emptying wood was
more honest than all the winks and nods
whispering behind my back
words
I no longer needed to use
only three ever necessary
I love you
though now you are smudged out
by burn of cinders staining toes
gone as cold as foggy morning
selecting mute I retraced my arc
pushed myself back beneath my bones
within the temple
within the woods
where the deer finally moved
from her camouflage and
sprinted light as powder
into converging dark
Incredible piece Candice. Hard lessons
🙂 Thank you my friend
My pleasure!
Brilliant for words. What an art in your penned lines. Loved the amazing picture too.👌👌👌👌👌
Thank you so much! I love the woods and sorely miss walking in them! I feel you can leave all the fakery behind when in the woods the truth prevails.
Yes absolutely true
I feel that way too. And this is an incredible piece, sister.
“the yawning maw of fraternization” and that moth with singed wings … these I feel, and similarly tattooed; this is filled with beautifully written revelations of your soul, other souls. Thank you.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you reading this poem and commenting thank you for that and for your words xo
Oh you know I love this! I love using the woods as setting and motif. Absolutely stunning, Lady! <3
Now if you could lend me your nearby woods I would be most appreciative 😉 xo xo ! (Thank you dear one)
You may have every leaf from every tree and all the blades of grass. Always, Shieldmaiden. <3
🙂 sending you a big thursday hug x
big Thorsday hugs back! xo
Aw man. The melancholy in this is almost tangible.
🙂 (thank you S)
I’m often at a loss for words trying to explain how poetry makes me feel. It never feels adequate. I’m in such a state with this piece. So let my speechlessness be my compliment, Candice! xoxo
Meg you have left me so happy reading this (thank you)
Excellent!!! 🙏
“You lost your grip on reality around the same time
my own dalliance with death disturbed the rafters
my shoulders of a man, yours of a sparrow
we danced around amber whiskey bottles
setting fire to tarmac”
Wow Candice, wow. you got me right at the beginning
😉 I love walking in the woods, are there any near where you live? There are not where I live anymore and I never knew how much I would miss that.
Sadly, no :'(. When I was in Colorado there were. I miss them so damn much. (excuse my language)
Candice- I am out of words to describe how much your writing moves me and weaves me into a spell. Believe me, if bigamy were not illegal, I would propose in hopes that you would write poems only I could read.
That and you’re cute!
😉
Ah you mad thing! You and Ole and many you feature on your blog are spellbindingly brilliant !!!
And you are just as brilliant and spellbinding my dear one!
You have good taste, the ones you choose and your own I would have equally chosen. I hope you’re feeling better?
Unfortunately the flu has returned with a vengeance after I went back to work for a day. This is a fierce, unkind illness.
Mmm i get that, and vanquish it, begone evil tyrant, leave alone good folk. I wish you healing dear one♡♡
Thank you love!
Reblogged this on Secret First Draft: A Site of the Sudden Denouement Literary Collective and commented:
The divine Candice Louisa Daquin of The Feathered Sleep
Thank you equal and lovely starlit one xo
“Within the temple, within the woods… ” love this for many reasons, the first you allowing the reader to “see” the temple as they approach until they are there. Then, there is the walking around once, looking in the Windows which allow the light to come and go. Take off my shoes and respectfully enter, not knowing whom I may meet or how long I might stay. Maybe forever. Thank you!!
Thank you Rick for your interpretation I liked it a lot. Reminded me of a show that’s on TV right now that’s called The Path it’s about a cult. Quite intriguing
Thank you for mentioning the show! Temples are so Holy! I have been inside one in my town. Very simple and yet one knows so much can happen there. I have also been fascinated my monasteries and hope to attend an ” all quiet ” retreat when I am able. You follow the same schedule as the monks, only in complete silence!
🙂
Into the woods, into the woods – what shall we find ? Love, laughter, shadows, spongy moss … oh dear, I’m afraid I cannot match your poeming at all !
This is stunning, enough said. Love the in situ as well.
Damn, but this is full of the rising light and sap of spring. As for this: “but the burn and blitz of some fantastic \ singeing his wings in tattoo \ and I too \ had always yearned for that feeling \ never discovered among the feeding troughs \ of social intercourse” I will revive an old Beat ovation: GO.
Stunning imagery (and a neat wordplay on wood)
Appreciating your approach to sexuality, and as always your honesty. It would be superfluous to go deeper, everyone else already covered my thoughts. I’ll part with saying, I can relate – as usual.
Thank you♡
A rich tapestry of real life … tells a story which is easy to relate to!
Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Please read the amazing poetry by a talented writer.
Thank you SO much John you honor me so much.
Was my honor and you are welcome.
Amazing poetry dear Poet.
Thank you dearest John of the Coyote xo
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
Thank you so much!
Simply gorgeous, C. <3
Lovely Sabrina of cactus and sunlight, we had a tornado last night in not-flat hill country SA! Thank you so much for your existence, I hope you are safe and well.
A tornado! Wow! We’ve had a lot of rain this past weekend, but nothing too extreme. Stay safe!
LOVE this! Thank you for sharing with us all
Thank you so much Todd. I did see your reply and I promise to write back asap xo
Wow! Just wow! 🎯
Thank you! You are so kind and appreciated by me!
I’ll be spending some time here! You write what I’ve been feeling! Thank YOU!
I’m very glad to know you♡♡