I should have unspoken my wish,
reeled it back into my mouth–
or at least tried. Maybe the intention
would have meant
something.
But now it’s out there, my wish,
drifting over the back fence
to kill chickens or children,
wringing whatever small necks it can find.
Prompts: Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (a wish) and Poetic Asides (unspoken).
This is bang on splendid! 😀
Thanks so much, Sanaa!
This is most excellent, those last lines would have been perfect for Brendan’s prompt as well… A killer end so to speak..
Thanks, Bjorn!
LOVE this Marilyn! I admittedly love the sentiment about wringing little necks, metaphorically, I’m sure.
Thanks, Angie! I do have both chickens and children in yards behind me, and both do get noisy at times, and I may have said, at some point, “I wish they’d just shut up.” But that’s all that I’ll admit.
What Björn said! The entire poem is fantastic, but those last lines take fantastic, wraps it around the throat, and say, “I’m here to stay and you will love the hurt.”
Thank you so much, Magaly! I’m honored by what you’ve said. 🙂
Um. Holy shit.
Thanks … I felt like having a slightly malevolent speaker today, or at least, one whose wish went in a very dark direction.
Goddamn goosebumps
Thanks, Amy Jo!
Love that killer close!
Thanks, Mama Zen!
Oops, that one got away 🙂 Your wish I mean, enjoyed this very much 🙂
Thank you!
When under stress, it is amazing what wishes explode forth that we may regret. Those dark last lines sing.
Indeed … and thank you, Gemma!
Whew! This was a surprise that really kicked my ass! Excellent!
Thank you so much!
Whew! I love “reeled it back into my mouth”
And then those last two lines stunned me numb. Whew.
So well done.
Wow — thanks, De! And congrats on being the NaPoWriMo featured poet. 🙂
Wow!!!!!! Your closing line is wonderfully wicked. Nailed it.
Thank you, Sherry!
I’ll be more circumspect now about muttering Jesus Fucking Christ in traffic.
Ewww! A very wonderful horrible poem!
That’s a dark little wish to let loose on the world.
Love this poem. Your pace, and pause are perfect.