A Mortal Scream Epistle: a #shadormaprose #letterpoem

1200px-The_Scream

Edvard Munch [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

You would not understand were you still on my side of the veil. I only hope that on your side, you do, and will forgive me for bearing witness. Just as I hope to someday forgive you.

 

Three AM

you dare scream my name

wake me up

so I see

you, a horror before me

sprawled on the cold floor

 

And what was I, but a child courting adolescence? Why did you think I could save you? You, who shredded my dignity with every poisoned word from Absolute-odored breath?

Why did you think I wanted to?

Of course, I did. The fact that I could do nothing tormented me, inspite of the impossibility of my making a meaningful intervention.

How could a pubescent boy stop a grown man driven to the edge?

 

twilight mist

around the headstone

both your names

soon obscured

now you rest so quietly

peacefully, at last

 

Accept my petunias in the summer, my wreath in the winter. May I lay down the remains of my grief with my next gift. Some day.

 

Dusk

a fox’s cry

in the dark

 

for:

dVerse MTB: Phantom form–Shardorma, Amaya pubtending

Real Toads’ “dear” poems

Poets United–midweek motif–scream

 

 

 

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42 responses to “A Mortal Scream Epistle: a #shadormaprose #letterpoem”

  1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade Avatar
    Rosemary Nissen-Wade

    Beautiful! And agonising. A wonderful combination of the three prompts, and of haibun and shadorma. Your final haiku is perfection.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Rosemary!

      Like

  2. Manicddaily Avatar
    Manicddaily

    A very sad poem that conveys both drama and trauma very wellโ€” cool use of the form also. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Manicddaily Avatar
    Manicddaily

    A very sad poem that conveys both drama and trauma very wellโ€” cool use of the form also. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Vivian Zems Avatar

    This shadorma prose is beautiful. A poignant tale.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Vivian Zems Avatar

        ๐Ÿ˜Š…my pleasure!

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Janice Avatar

    A powerful write from beginning to end.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. rothpoetry Avatar

    A really great piece Frank! Sadly Beautiful. Looking back lives a lot of what ifs!
    Dwight

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Dwight! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Liked by 1 person

  7. kanzensakura Avatar

    The ending haiku is wonderful. I love that fox’s cry in the dark.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Toni. ๐Ÿ˜€ I find that foxโ€™s cry haunting!

      Like

      1. kanzensakura Avatar

        As do I, like the sounds of owls and other critters at night.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Sherry Blue sky Avatar

    This is stunning, especially the haiku. Wonderful, Frank.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Sherry! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Like

  9. Sumana Roy Avatar

    ‘scream’ is so faint and almost tiptoeing in tune with the horror and sadness…So very well put.

    Like

  10. kim881 Avatar

    I love the way you have combined the prompts and forms, Frank. You’ve included various screams, too: I’m familiar with the three am scream, the adolescent scream and the fox’s cry in the dark, but oh, that silent scream of grief is so deeply felt.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. sanaarizvi Avatar
    sanaarizvi

    This shadorma prose is beautifully haunting!!๐Ÿ’ž

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Gospel Isosceles Avatar

    A haunting story of a boy, then man, haunted. This line spoke so much to me,
    “May I lay down the remains of my grief with my next gift. Some day.” And then followed by the haiku, almost as if the boy is resolved to forever hear those screams, even if there’s a vague hope that he won’t have to. Great writing, Frank!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Amaya! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Like

  13. Charley Avatar

    I don’t even know where to begin…. I read the poetry (forms) first, then read the entirety. Each piece I read as a stand-alone. Then I re-read the whole. Bravo.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Charley!

      Like

      1. Charley Avatar

        You are welcome!

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Charmed Chaos Avatar

    Frank, this is one of the most heart-rending pieces I have read. Beautiful and sad and all too real.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Khaya Ronkainen Avatar
    Khaya Ronkainen

    A poignant piece. But what remarkable skill to put together these poetic forms! Very impressive.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thank you, Khaya! ๐Ÿ˜€

      Like

  16. Bjรถrn Rudberg (brudberg) Avatar

    The shadorma works so well into the haibun… such a sorrowful image of taking care of a parent like that (in life and in death)

    Liked by 1 person

  17. purplepeninportland Avatar

    This brought tears to my eyes. Your haiku at the end is perfection. Well done, Frank!

    Like

  18. Margaret Elizabeth Bednar Avatar

    partial to the final haiku ! and I like your thoughts in between each. Sorrowfully yet wonderfully written.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thanks, Margaret!

      Like

  19. Bekkie Sanchez Avatar

    Lovely work! I love foxes!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly) Avatar

    Ironically for me sorrow can bring out my best writing. Great work!

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Lona Gynt Avatar

    Reply to
    Honest clarity:
    Forgiveness,
    A nice thought,
    Breathes only if forged in pain.
    Beautifully Frank.

    – ๐Ÿ’œ This. Thanks. Lona.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Frank J. Tassone Avatar

      Thank you, Lona! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Liked by 1 person

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