we remain rootedly positioned
between scylla and charybdis*
the chasm that separates us
mythically disproportionate
to your truth, or mine.
clash- two worlds colliding
yours a rock and mine a hard face
your forlorn forced inflections
emanating from the belly of your god.
my belligerent brawling outbursts
clutching tight the hand-
of absolution sure demise.
just once, can’t we beg off?
let hoar fog obscure our fracas
cleanse us both in salt sea brine
cast off weighted chain and anchor
just once, let dead dogs lie??
foundation built of rock, on hard place
just this once- oh mother mine?
Word Count: 99
*The idiom ‘between Scylla and Charybdis’ has come to mean being between two dangers, choosing either of which brings harm.
Written for Carrot Ranch’s 99 word Flash Fiction Prompt Sea Mist and MLMM Saturday Mix Mad About Metaphors
Like it on every level; and I see it has many levels. Clever selection of words, each with deep meanings. I believe you know your subject well. 🙂
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Indeed I do. Thank you Crispina.
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“between scylla and charybdis*
“yours a rock and mine a hard face”
Oh yes, that between ‘a rock and a hard place’ with our parents… I’ve been there.
I like your poetic quality to the common phrase. I do believe salt air can be cleansing.
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Thank you Jules so do I.
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Ah, I see here how you came *close* to mermaids! Excellent poem – love the Greek mythology element!
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OH no this is not about mermaids, but it was my first thought when I saw the prompt.
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But sea monsters, yes!
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Ah yes! Complete with multiple faces…
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Choosing the lesser of two evils. My truth is greater than your truth. Clutching the hand of absolution and cleansed in salt sea brine. Very Christian and spiritual. Perhaps they were discussing religion.
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Indeed mother is very christian, and me, well let’s just say not so much. Thank you for sharing this with me Len.
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
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Thank you Reena. This one is dear to my heart. Thank you for sharing it .
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If something comes from the heart, it builds an instant connect. Thank you for sharing it!
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My pleasure.
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Violet, I love the layering of verse, the imagery, and internal turmoil. A great package overall, and I especially loved this line: “let hoar fog obscure our fracas”
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Thank you Charli. When I thought of fog or sea mist as you said obscuring views, this is where I went. An excellent prompt. Thank you so much for the inspiration again this week.
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I love the way you used mythological metaphors and allusions (along with the idiom) for this human condition. The imagery is both detailed and elusive at once — I hope that we can all abide by this line: “let hoar fog obscure our fracas/cleanse us both in salt sea brine”. The sea brine as a cleansing instrument is very impactful.
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Oh HA I am honored you even stopped in let alone left me such a well thought out comment. I am in awe of your poetic voice, Thank you for sharing this piece with me.
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You certainly inspire me as well, Violet!
It’s so good to read this one again — the force of your words and the intermittent tension along with the alliteration are something to be enjoyed by reading it out loud. I am glad that you linked in with the prompt. 🙂
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When I saw your prompt, this poem came instantly to mind. I want to do a piece on Medusa, but it will have to wait till I get settled in my new home. As always, thank you so much Anmol for stopping in to comment.
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Powerful and eloquent writing, Violet. This piece is marvelous! “Let dead dogs lie.” Love it!
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Thanks TAM, I am glad you enjoyed reading it. i sure enjoyed writing it.
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Oh yeah… I have one of those. Very well done.
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Something that could be such a blessing…
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That was a stunning poem Violet, a true masterpiece.
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Thank you Anurag I love writing it.
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I love this. ‘Specially the questions which ring out as rhetorical in context.
Thank you
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Thank you tnkerr. I am really glad you enjoyed it.
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This is a fascinating poem, Violet
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Why, thank you Roberta.
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Loved it.
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I guess I am the first commenter for the dVerse prompt. This “prior pom” works well; lots of myths about mothers and matriarchs. Communicating with parents are like the trials of Hercules.
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Thank you so much, Glenn for the visit and the well thought out comment. Herculean feats indeed, then and now, human or mythological. Soul striving interactions, every one..
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I’m currently reading Circe by Madeline Miler and your poem resonated with the literary world I currently inhabit, Violet! I love the way you convey the difficulties of a mother-daughter relationship with the mythological. I especially admire the lines:
‘…two worlds colliding
yours a rock and mine a hard face
your forlorn forced inflections
emanating from the belly of your god’
(great play on ‘rock and a hard place’!)
and
‘let hoar fog obscure our fracas
cleanse us both in salt sea brine
cast off weighted chain and anchor’.
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Thank you so much, Kim. You always leave such well thought out comments. I appreciate your kind words.
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I enjoyed this one very much. Mothers and daughters! The imagery is sustained and turbulent.
I’m not sure you need to asterisk Scylla and Charybdis though. Anyone who doesn’t know what they are (as literate people we ought to can just look them up, I’d have thought 🙂
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Thank you for stopping in to comment, Jane. I was unsure when I posted it originally if the reference was too obscure. Of course on the deVerse crew it was simpler as it reflected the subject matter. Thank you for your kind words.
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I enjoyed it! It’s just my opinion about the asterisk, but I wouldn’t ‘excuse’ a reference as much in the common culture as that one. The Greek myths are the best known of all, and most literate people have a passing knowledge of them. I’d expect anyone joining in a prompt about mythology to get the reference. Other poets don’t explain when they make particularly obscure and personal references 🙂
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Wowww ❤️ This is incredibly evocative!! 😀
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Somethings just have to be made clear. if only for the sanity of the writer. Thank you, Sana for stopping by, and welcome to this little window to my world.
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this really speaks to me:
“the chasm that separates us
mythically disproportionate
to your truth, or mine.”
with the rock and the hard place there is no way to acknowledge the other’s truth. it’s not even about truth at this point, you’ve articulated this so well. i appreciate the plea at the end, as while the two exist and the chasm between them there can never be closure. i speak from personal experience. best to remove oneself from the vicinity of the chasm and travel to verdant lands ❤
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You are so right on so many levels. I have come to the same conclusion as far as distance, both physically and emotionally being the only chance for peace.
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I love the conflict of forces here… and with that last line tying it to mother… never peace, just cease-fire.
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your closing line, ‘never peace, just cease-fire’ could not have been truer, or hit harder. Thank you Bjorn.
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