The
wind rustles outside this cave,
keening
of what is done, what is past,
and
of all the whispers it sings
into
my ears, it is Salome’s voice,
the
voice of our mother, whose words
we
knew before we were, her voice,
the
wife of Zebedee, pleading
we
be placed on left and on the right,
seeking
advantage over the others,
desiring
position we did not deserve.
He
said she knew not what she asked,
and
I see two thieves on a hill, escorts
unto
death, one on the left and one
on
the right; I think of my brother
run
through with the sword of the man
whose
relation, the other Salome,
danced
for the head of the other John.
I
hear the wind on this wretched rock
and
I know myself to be the one
he
loved, loved even to the death.
This
poem is submitted for the Poetics prompt at dVerse poets, imagining
yourself to be “the other.” To see more poems submitted, please visit dVerse Poets.
Painting: Fresco of St. John on Patmos
by Giotto (1320), Santa Croce, Florence.
some things never change... do we even know what we ask for... nice write.
ReplyDeletethis is awesome glynn, have often thought about how the sons felt when their mother asked for this and spinning it to salome who danced for the king and then her mother asked for the head of john the baptist is just great...mothers can be really silly sometimes in what they ask their kids for or ask for their kids..
ReplyDeletevery nice glynn...great capture...what a crazy life of the disciples...stumbling and bumbling along at times...and what many saw then went through themselves after as far as persecution...intersting the points you chose to accentuate as well both tying to mothers...
ReplyDeleteInteresting triangulations here that make the identity of this speaker imprecise - makes this speaker the Everyman who hears the rousing pneuma or Spirit in the wind. Brothers and apostles, father and Father, two Salomes - mother and whore -- all of them singing in this old exile as he dreams -- what -- Revelation? Great poem, Glynn. - Brendan
ReplyDeleteGlenn- Powerful and very touching. I love the ending!
ReplyDeleteGlynn, this is a striking poem...one has to know Biblical history to 'get it,' but darned it is a powerful write.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was John the Apostle speaking as he outlived the others. I apologize if I'm wrong. I like your approach to this prompt.
ReplyDeleteAlot of images here to play on to determine intent...I'm content to say a fantastic write and let it settle.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say I'm rusty on who the set of Salomes are (I recall the one who served up John the Baptist's head), but on first glance I do like, very much, the idea of this poem - how you refer to sets of *Others*. You've also got a very graceful and economical way of stitching a verse together.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, maybe Anna has it right...I feel like doing some reading of the Gospels now.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the biblical take on this poem....the apostle loving Jesus on the cross, is my fav part:
ReplyDelete"I hear the wind on this wretched rock
and I know myself to be the one
he loved, loved even to the death."
for some reason, the one on left and one on right symbolism was really powerful to me.
ReplyDeletethis is so 'rich' with words & imagery & allusion...a good read indeed. nice job in a persona poem. I enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading this one awhile, trying to figure out the voice. I do like the use of both Salomes. You definitely had me reading closing, hanging on the lines for clues. Compelling write.
ReplyDeleteThis is just . . . good. So rich.
ReplyDeleteLove it even to the end. Dying to love.
ReplyDeleteI do not know the names, except for John, but I feel the voice and see the imagery.
ReplyDeletedesiring position we did not deserve
ReplyDeleteNever once have I thought of how he might have felt, a grown man... with a mother still vying for his position.
These words are so well written:
I think of my brother run through with the sword of the man whose relation, the other Salome,
danced for the head of the other John.
Great job Glynn. =)
*goosebumps*
ReplyDeleteI just love these character glimpses. You do them so well.