Tuesday, May 5, 2015

The Words the Dead Speak

for Frank Stanford

You are the darkness
that backs my shimmer of hope
like the night sky to a red moon
like the woodlands
to a wolf in slumber

Death brings sober words
to drunk characteristics
Death reads the stanzas that
fall from my fingertips
in a language I find hard
to understand
as I see a lock
of curly hair fall
from beneath its hood

The closest I'll ever get to hearing
your voice

©2015 Anthony Desmond Scott. All Rights Reserved.
For Poetics.
I've written plenty of poems dedicated to Frank Stanford;
I wouldn't be the poet I am if it wasn't
for copying his bold style until I was comfortable
enough to find myself artistically. 

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21 comments:

brudberg said...

Absolutely stunning Anthony.. the final line is really hard in all the soft whisper of words.. One of my favorites of yours ever.

Mary said...

A very serious poem, Anthony. I don't know Frank Stanford, but it seems this is a very somber poem. You have some great lines. I especially like 'death reads the stanzas that fall from my fingertips.....' I will have to check out some of his work.

Gabriella said...

Here is another poet I did not know, Anthony. You have some very strong and striking lines in this poem. I can definitely see your poetry is changing for the better.

Unknown said...

Oh Anthony! This is an incredible piece. I am going to make the acquaintance of Frank Stanford simply because of this poem of yours. Every week, you write a poem that outdoes the last. That last stanza just awes.

Claudia said...

i would've never pictured death with curly hair...that seems to be such a surprising detail... need to check out frank stanford - i bet that by the end of the night there will be a long list of poets i've never heard ot

Myrna R. said...

How wonderfully you honor your mentor Anthony. This poem is bold with love and appreciation for him. It's beautiful!

Glenn Buttkus said...

Excellent change-up for you; rocking the prompt as well. I like the line /like the night sky to a red moon/. Tribute or not, this is one of your strongest & best poems; made me feel a bit silly writing mine about Walt Whitman.

Marina Sofia said...

This is a great tribute to Frank Stanford - and I think wholly your style too. Have you seen the recently published Collected Poems of his? I'm debating getting it as a physical book (because e-readers are rubbish for poetry).

Misky said...

What an incredible poem! Full of surprises.

Peggy said...

Impressive and sobering poem. I am sure your poet would be pleased with your tribute.

Wolfsrosebud said...

i liked the elements of natural and all the visuals painted a nice picture

C.C. said...

The first stanza completely overwhelmed me. The imagery....particularly, "like the night sky to a red moon" is just so abundantly rich. Wow, Anthony. Phenomenal.

Grace said...

I admire the boldness of the title and theme itself - death ~ in the opening lines ~

Good one Anthony ~

cartlandsader@gmail.com said...

I really love the layers here, and the mystery hidden in each image. Nice.

Katie Mia Frederick said...

Death is a child that never sleeps.. death is a lock of hair that never feels.. life is the curl of a girl or boy beneath a hood.. that will live on.. as long as we honor that in words of song..:)

kaykuala said...

Strong and on a subject morbid in nature. That gives it an outright sense of foreboding. Great lines Anthony!

Hank

Susan said...

I went ad read a few. You do him proud and then some in this poem of life and death and life again.

Roslyn Ross said...

Poignant and powerful. Well done.

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the contrasts in your imagery..."night sky to a red moon"...woodlands
to a wolf in slumber". A very striking and profound piece.

X said...

Solid last line Anthony. It sets the whole thing off a bit, and makes it personal. There is a nice maturity in your voice, from your earlier pieces. Definitely less a hip hop feel than your other stuff as well.

De Jackson said...

I just love this:
"Death reads the stanzas that
fall from my fingertips
in a language I find hard
to understand"