literature

herb-grace

Deviation Actions

Published: Sep 19, 2010

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Literature Text

_{Mama,
    you never taught me to grow marsh samphire in goldfish bowls
    nor told me why the good girls are always locked away from the dark,
               (but you should know I thought of you
               when the undertow claimed my wishbone fingers.)

                              —there's pansies, that's for thoughts

Father,
    maybe you were right to warn me about little darkling children
    with kingfisher eyes and lying lovers with cordite hearts,
               (but, daddy dear, you should have known that to barter
               for a creature's life will never promise you its love.)

                              —i would give you violets, but they withered all when my father died

Brother,
    no one told you that madness is more than sparrow-winged girls
    with fluttering shoulder blades and thistledown smiles
               (but behind your desperate tortoiseshell shield,
               I fear I lost my hand-span wings for good.)

                              —there's rue for you; and here's some for me

My love,
    you'd like to drown my fractal lungs in flattery, but, darling,
    did no one tell you that medusa was once beautiful too?
               (and when you called me a whore, dear,
               I found the river's deathgrip to be a friendlier pair of arms than yours.)

                              —pray, love, remember.}

^{There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue
for you; and here's some for me: we may call it
herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with
a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you
some violets, but they withered all when my father
died: they say he made a good end,--

I'm curious to see how many of you will know what this is based on - at least some, I hope

Italicised parts are quotes, as is the title. Enjoy, feedback welcome as ever (:}