farewell, cassandra

[phinnia]

they found her blue-lipped, wide-eyed-wild
raging hot: claimed fever-dreams, her drugs,
skin ravaged purple, a junkie's pox. her words
mean nothing, her body less.

but still
you trace her through the sheet: the arcs
of roman nose and collarbones, the wasted skin
had shadowed honest words. this late Cassandra
sang songs of fear and hunger most forgot.
they sink into your bones, and you will not.


(reconsiders it over ice cream. is pretty good. *submits*)

(edit: written for elisem's 'nine things about oracles'. Artpost is here: original inspiration/jewelry is here.)

Comments

[phoenixsong]

See, I kind of like it. <3

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

after rereading, i like it too. <3 thank you.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

wow, that's beautiful. love the imagery in the last three lines

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you!

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i like it.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you! <3

[euclase.livejournal.com]

I think it's the POV character that makes me like this. Whoever's doing the tracing through the sheet, I mean. Why'd you pick that lens?

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

i see the pov character as a nurse or an orderly, some low-style person on the hospital totem pole who was close to the patients in a way that doctors and residents weren't. as far as why, i'm not sure; that's how it was in my head is the only way to describe it <3

[sysrae.livejournal.com]

Beautiful cadence. Reminds me of Anne Sexton. Lovely!

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you! <3

[gizmometer.livejournal.com]

i. love. this.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you! *noms you*

[magie-05.livejournal.com]

AHHH, I love this. Imagery is just startling, and I agree that the POV is really something special. Perfect <3

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you, hon <3 *noms you*

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

This.

Whoa. Okay, wow. A whole story in this thing.

I'm not worthy.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you. <3<3<3

[mirrormargaret.livejournal.com]

LOVE THIS.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you! <3<3<3

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

Amazing.

[phinnia.livejournal.com]

thank you! <3

[dangomango.livejournal.com]

"A junkie's pox", oh, shivering here, and that last stanza, god. The wasted skin had shadowed honest words. Pretty much yeah :)