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This Poem, A Song

"Bones" by Libby Roderick

I come from a long line of dead people
I come from a tall pile of bones
My people lie sleeping all under the world
Their souls turn to roots, leaves and stones.

My grandpa went by whiskey in an L.A. hotel
His dad died of Ohio coal
And before him, and before that, they slipped under the ground
Fewer bones walk above than below.

My great grandmother's eyes stare out from my face
Her skinny bones dance around in my clothes
You can almost hear the whisper of her sweet southern song
In this voice I've been calling my own.

A toast to the living, walk us walk down the aisle
So these bones can be married to the flesh for awhile.
A song, a song for the living, though the flesh worries when
These bones will be leaving to join family again.

I come from a long line of dead people
I come from a tall pile of bones
My people lie sleeping all under the world
Their souls turn to roots, leaves and stones.
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Comments

  1. mebApril 17, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Uh.. well, can't say it would be listed as one of my favorite poems. : ) The one thing for sure... I also see my mother when I look in the mirror and hear her voice coming out of my mouth.

    ReplyDelete

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