They taste bitter,
like burnt wormwood
months passed due.
The taste dresses my face
dumb: squinting; nose wrinkled;
teeth clenched as if posing
for a smile two moments too long.
Yes. I suffer for my words.
Yet still, with gag reflex checked,
I open wide for seconds
and for a slice of stale dessert.
2 comments:
I like how you take a familiar expression and expand upon it. This is something that I like to do myself. It shows definite craft when you can take a cliched expression and shed new light on the subject. I also like the enjambment on the 2nd line of the 2nd stanza--a definite skill of yours. Heck, I think the 2nd stanza in general rocks, especially the last line. I picture somebody clenching his/her teeth saying "Take the goddamn picture already!" Nice job!
I too love that idea of posing just a bit too long. I think that you can remove either yet or still. I think it'll function stronger with just one of the two. I almost want a harsher word than stale. Not quite putrid, but maybejust a step down.
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