Thursday 12 November 2020

Mad


She has cut it out, her heart. 

She has stitched it together, it was broken. 

It is now tethered to her wrist by a string. 

 

It floats.  It beats. 

It is… (cold   (it is as frigid as ice))

 

“Beautiful, YOU are” he says as he lies down beside her

(it’s not the he, the heartless heartbreaker

but some unfortunate sap who just doesn’t get

that he’s plain out of his luck.)

 

He will die, this is certain, for the sins of the other,

the absentee lover who left her dejected rejected

that broke up her heart

 

She allows him to take her.  He takes her

and heightened with  passion she brings the knife down.

She roughly rolls him aside and he pleads with her quietly,

quiet quizzical Whys(?) filling his emptying eyes.

 

His lights have gone out – she feels both loss and elation.

She gathers her senses, carves out his heart,

flash fries it (in butter), then consumes it with gusto

with relish and tatties, fried onions and peas. 

Yum!  Yum!

 

She smiles…

One down and countless to go!

Hoorah!  Hoorah!  Hoorah!

 

Anna :o]

Just in case you’re worried, I love men, well most men, but I don’t love all women either (except in pies…). 

Words for the lovely Magaly who is hosting P&SU Weekly Scribblings#45: Artistic Interpretations and whose inspirational prompts are of three images.  (I have used two and the image above is “Carnival Dreams”, by Shelle Kennedy.  The words “Beautiful YOU are” re “Beautiful, YOU are”, by Magic Love Crow)

Also shared with the good folk at dVerse Open Link Night hosted by the lovely Linda.  Cheers Linda!


26 comments:

Jim said...

For some reason I have a smirk on my face, got it bigger and bigger as I read on. I've know those "the he" guys, also the married and the singles that women love, fight over for a one-night-stand. They won't be stabbed.
This reminded me of the "Fried Green Tomato" story and also of "The kiss of the 'black widow'."
..

Rosemary Nissen-Wade said...

Well – that went from tragedy to sudden comedy (albeit dark). You were wonderfully inspired!

Helen said...

Very Sweeney Todd ~~~ and a spectacular write!! Cheers.

Magical Mystical Teacher said...

A woman to avoid, for sure!

Magaly Guerrero said...

I agree with Helen, very Sweeney! And I like that. I was not expecting the meal, so you set it up things just right. And her final celebratory shouts give the whole piece a balanced hint of ominous, dark, and sadly insane. The speaker is very Hannibal Lector like, a character that is charming, likable, and absolutely terrifying.

It was delicious.

Lisa said...

Oh, how wonderful! I love how you had her cut out her own broken heart to fly on a string. I was not expecting that ending!

Jenna said...

Wow! I mean that in a good way. Even if this is incredibly dark and creepy.

brudberg said...

Oh ... that sounds like this is just the beginning...

Lucy said...

Wow! Your wordsmithing is incredible, and such darkness in this piece. It's stunning.

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...


A ghoulishly good short read. If anyone is missing the atmosphere of Halloween, this will reawaken it!

Linda Lee Lyberg said...

Left me stunned- well done!

Merril D. Smith said...

Wow--stunning! I feel like I descended into madness with her. I feel like she must have been horribly abused.

JadeLi said...

Unnerving.

He won! Too bad so many will suffer because he succeeded in turning a soul from light to dark.

Ron. Lavalette said...

A darkly cool (cool dark?) telling indeed, Anna. Moved well, and that closing stanza...Yowza!

Old Egg said...

Lest you think badly of me and intend to kill me later I have as a precaution called myself Old Egg. Judging other men the same as the one you met that hurt you is sad. It would be better to get a dog as a companion who would love you unreservedly.

eribage said...

i've been that unfortunate sap, so was initially horrified. but this is just too good, too juicy. and the vegetarians make better meatpies!

great to read you again Anna

Kim M. Russell said...

The tone of your poem matches that of the image perfectly, Anna, so dark and bloody. The opening lines hooked me in with their ekphrastic description, and the progression to the nitty gritty background details is so well done with the male antagonist’s words – he picked the wrong girl.

kaykuala said...

She smiles…
One down and countless to go!

They come and go. This is only the beginning. They come in big numbers.

Hank

Ingrid said...

This was gruesome, bloodthirsty, and thoroughly enjoyable...❤️

Debi Swim said...

Perfect poem for the picture

Susie Clevenger said...

I'm smiling at the darkness in this poem. I suppose I shouldn't but, I can't help myself. Love it!

Tricia Sankey said...

Very creative! The song Maneater comes to mind. Heart fried in butter sounds decadent!

Dora said...

It seems the ruthless rage and hate that drive her only gives her satisfaction if she can have their love before she cannibalizes their hearts! Does she have a glass Chianti with her meal I wonder as Dr. Hannibal would recommend? Or is that with liver? 🤔

purplepeninportland.com said...

"flash fried in butter" makes me think she likes her hearts rare.

rallentanda said...

An awful reality but hopefully not widespread.Thought provoking and interesting.
Not all men are bastards:)

Sanaa Rizvi said...

I resonate strongly with this one having gone through 6 disturbing months filled with anxiety and despair. Men like these just aren't worth it. We are better off without them. Always a pleasure to read you!!💝