All this…life
blisters;
claws from the
dirt.
Easy to burn.
From the east—
gasping, groaning
halcyon.
Is this eternity, a
jail of
kinetic, ever-
lasting
mess?
Never
outside it.
Poised for
quotidian
reeling.
Stumble
to darkness, to
ultraviolet scorching…
vanish.
When does turbulence cease, many
xeniums to God make right
your existence, mine?
Zoar is in the liminal.
Glossary:
- Halcyon: calm, peaceful, tranquil.
- Kinetic: relating to motion.
- Quotidian: daily, common, ordinary.
- Xenium: gift or offering. (Not sure if the plural form is entirely acceptable. But it worked.)
- Zoar: the town Lot was directed by God to take refuge in in Genesis. The Hebrew for this word is derivative of a verb that means "to be small or insignificant." However as a noun, it refers to a place of "smallness." Used here, I was imagining "refuge" but "insignificant" also works as an interpretation of "smallness." (Thank you to Randy J.K. for pointing out the additional definitions of this word.)
About the Creator
Mackenzie Davis
“When you are describing a shape, or sound, or tint, don’t state the matter plainly, but put it in a hint. And learn to look at all things with a sort of mental squint.” Lewis Carroll
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Copyright Mackenzie Davis.
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More stories from Mackenzie Davis and writers in Poets and other communities.
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By The Dani Writer7 days ago in Confessions
Comments (15)
Amazing read! A great submission to the Abecedarian challenge. If you get the chance to check my submission out I would greatly appreciate it!
I love when you include the list of definitions for the new words, Mackenzie! They let me reread the poem and get a fuller appreciation for it!
So well done with this! And I appreciate the definitions at the bottom haha. But this created such visuals right off the bat with the claws from the dirt. Loved the flow of this, such an excellent read!
This is gorgeous. It leaves the reader wanting more in the best way possible. I love the word halcyon!! I only recently discovered it and it might be a new favourite! “Vanish.” Being one line and one complete stanza was so impactful. Like all other forms of poetry, you’re a master at abecedarians!!
Zoar also means insignificant. That sanctuary is to be found in the liminal, those spaces others deem insignificant, is powerfully meaningful.
Xenium and zoar blew my mind! My favourite line was ultraviolet scorching. Loved your Abecedarian so much!
I have learned so many new words that start with X and Z from the abecedarians coming out lately! Reading this felt like sitting in a white room in the best way.
There is such a clear feeling of being unsettled, and the rawness of some of the words makes it powerfully so! Great questions to make the reader think.
There are so many scenarios this could sit against, it’s sad. Lovely word choices and creative solutions to the q, x, and z challenges 😉🥰
Oh well bloody done, pal! Awesome entry from you. Turbulence is a good word, as Hannah noted. Love how you've distilled so much in so few words. Brevity at its masterful best!
The glossary is a well-appreciated addition. Good work! Deserves so many reads!
Turbulence. Yes, such a good word for this experience we are all having. I do, I spend my time waiting for turbulance to cease, even while I wobble about.
Love this! Very creative. Also love the inclusion of a glossary. Clever!
Amazing vocabulary, particularly the use of halcyon! Really powerful word, really powerful poem. Awesome entry :)
Decisively indecisive.