Vexed
for Vocal's Poemosaurus Rex Challenge
I was clumsy
I can admit it
too big for my britches
too hard to contain
too young, too wild to pin down
.
But I had my million dollar smile
so I got all toothy for you, babe
saw you coming
from across the western plains
shaking your tail
shedding your skin
.
But you weren't buying what I was selling
you saw two short arms
too short to hold you
and I'd never want to hold you back
so I left you to your own devices
bungled the intro
read the tree leaves
gave you your space
watched the skies for your return
believing you'd roam
back to my cave some sweet day
perhaps I'd entertain you
with an evening of ceiling art
.
Even then
I could read the writing on the wall
these paintings were never your style
I knew it in my bones --
I could never fuel
your heart's desires
.
seasons changed and time moved on
and you wandered the world
sowing your wild oats
until at last
as if by magic or human intervention
you came back
.
but by then
all my color had faded to gray
I was a fossil,
a hollow shell of my former self,
too old to try again
too set in my ways
.
you were the one who got away
for a long while I had wondered
what if
as I ogled the skies and imagined myself
more daring, willing and able to
follow your trail
all the way across Panacea
but even in my dreams
all I got was this lousy T-Rex tee shirt
and giant cloud of dust that mushroomed
overhead, shaking my very foundations
.
I survived
without you
for a time
wading through the muddy waters
not sampling the locals
eating from tree tops
til I could take no more
.
I tried it your way - herbivore -
to impress you
not wanting to deal with all the fall-out
but in my bones
I'm an omnivore, babe,
so I rattled them bones and buried you
in my way back when, dropped you like a stone,
like you were so Paleozoic
.
but every now and then I see you dance across my mind
like you were
the beginning and the end
of all things
_______________
Copyright © 05/14/2024 by Christy Munson. All rights reserved.
About the Creator
Christy Munson
My words expose what I find real and worth exploring.
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Comments (29)
Catching up after a week away from Vocal and was so happy to see the results for this challenge. Congrats, Christy! 🎉 I found this to be a tough subject, my dino knowledge being limited, and you absolutely nailed it! At first I was focused on the cute image of making ceiling art, but those emotions deepened on a dime, no beats missed. It opened up into something profound and even relatable. I can definitely see why Vocal picked this. Right up there with Littlefoot's tale in terms of moving dino stories. 🫶🏼
Wooohooooo Congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This was so beautiful and haunting, sad and emotional all at once. Congratulations
So wonderful! Congratulations!
Wow! This poem is so cleverly done and beautiful! I love how so much of its word play is relatable to the present. Well done and congrats, Christy!
👏👏👏 Congratulations, Christy! Beautiful work!
Fabulous!!! Congratulations on the runner up win!!💕❤️❤️
Congratulations
Oh my goodness, this was so good!! 💔🥺💖💖💖 The suprer creative use of words - chef's kiss! Perfection! This bit in particular floored me: "I knew it in my bones -- I could never fuel your heart's desires" Congratulations on placing on the challenge 🥰
Wtg Christy! Congrats
Absolutely stunning entry, Christy. Congratulations on placing in the challenge! Very well done!
Congrats on Runner-up, Christy!!
Ah, Panacea. Great place to visit. Congrats.
This is a really clever take on the challenge. Well done. And I want a T-rex t-shirt.
Just loved but it may mean a lot!
I love where you took this challenge!! It's enticing and eye opening and has some great entertainment value!!
I love how you have constructed this. Definitely about dinosaurs. Definitely not.
How clever, Christy! The narrative voice in this is top notch! What a character sketch with commentary
You have conjured sympathy for the long gone, short-armed thunder lizard here--outstanding!
So many great observations, a painting with words, great work
Gosh this was so poignant and emotional! Loved it so much!
Christy, this is so well done
Hi Christy, I love this. It's so unique. I especially love the line 'perhaps I'd entertain you with an evening of ceiling art.'
Oh wow, this is sooooo good!! Great challenge entry!!
A wonderful piece, Christy! Good luck in the Challenge : )