Gastrolith
For the Smooth Challenge
It is not convention, I know, to carry a stone
Outside of your body, the weight in a trouser pocket,
Discarded on the floor each night, draped over a chair
Before I climb into bed.
Sometimes, I take it out and place it on the bedside table,
Where it is safe and I can watch it,
The way the lamp light finds no purchase to pin shadows,
And so drapes them, doubtingly, fading out of sight.
The way the moon bathes it, nullifies its pricking colours,
Flannels its glints and renders it smooth.
Sometimes, I tuck it beneath my pillow,
And let the press of it mount beneath my ear,
Hearing nothing.
Mostly, it stays in my pocket, where I hold it,
Cold and firm and undeniable
When I need to remember the ground beneath me.
Once, dry mouthed and thirsting, I placed it between my teeth,
And closed my mouth around it,
And, wetted, marvelled at its absence
Of hooks or divots to slow my sliding tongue.
The friction is all mine, the papillae,
The swirled ridges of my finger-tips,
So soothed to feel so little.
I know it is not convention, after all these years,
To carry this gastrolith in my hand,
And not to let it sink me.
When I choose to float.
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By Natalie Wilkinson7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (24)
Oh just gorgeously rendered. The fixation on the smoothness, the comfort of the stone's weight, the layered symbol in how it's always watched or felt by the speaker. It's all working sublimely. I feel like it's therapy.
I really enjoyed this. If only we could carry our baggage on the outside and set it down when we pleased. :)
So amazing, Hannah! This piece gave me all the feels. Congrats on your placement in the challenge!! 💞💫
Yayyyyy I'm sooooo happy for you my friend! Congratulations!!!!!
This is so good. Sorry I missed this first time around! Congratulations. So very deserved. ❤️
Congratulations on your win!
Yay! Congrats.
What a beautiful piece about such a seemingly simple object and the significance it can play in one’s life. I think, maybe secretly, we all have something like this that we hang on to, in order to keep ourselves grounded. Congratulations!
Beautifully written!!! Congratulations on the runner up win!!!
Sorry I missed this one but brilliantly composed and the sentiment is perfect! Super Congratulations!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh...congrats. Congrats. Congrats. One of us done it! :) I'm so delighted you placed. Well done, Hannah!
Masterful and impressive use of language! Congrats!
Some excellent words in there as always 😁 Papillae is a good one. I'd stab a man for your vocabulary.
I read about animals using stones to digest their food, now I have a name for it. This was positively brilliant, the use of the stone as a simile for comfort. Wonderful poetry.
So...yeah...read this like Jason literally first and then really felt the metaphorical side. It actually really works well both ways. Beautiful and relatable writing. I feel I often say that about your work, Hannah, and it's because it's the truth. Great entry and thank you for the new word.
Marvelous. I read this both ways, as a literal stone and as a burden. Oddly enough I have what I call a worry stone on my desk. I hold it and rub it between my hand and it eases my mind.
When I saw your title, I googled it because I had no idea what it was and I was so fascinated to learn about it! Then I started reading your poem was like a tad confused because I took it literally, lol. Then I went with it metaphorically and understood perfectly. I wish I can do that to my brain, just remove it and place it on the table. Lol. Loved your poem!
I thought this was brill. Great writing.
This is beautiful. Wouldn't it be great if we could just carry our burdens in our pockets and lay them on then table when we're done. Then again, I'd never pick it back up. Great entry.
Beautiful poem. Carrying weight externally is easier to manage, heal, and use to your good or take a break from the pain. Beats that weighted, sinking feeling in your stomach. I can relate. Time to put s stone in my pocket. Your poem is extraordinary in its awareness and poetic beauty. Love it. 🥰
💙💙💙💙💙💙
I've read your explanation below to Salman but I think even without it, you can read this piece as the stone being a comfort or a talisman, something that grounds the narrator. Whatever it "means" your description is great of the stone and the relationship that the narrator has with it.
don't understand