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The Devil On My Right Shoulder

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The Devil On My Right Shoulder

 

it might be snowing outside

if I could be bothered

a girl with red lipstick

could be kissing my cheek

the sky could be filled

with ants on the wing

silver fish

darting in foam

at the foot of a black mountain

we could be counting stars

riding a Ferris wheel

licking sweat

from thighs of gold

the days could last

for weeks on end

the nights

could be over in seconds

light could bounce

from lofty castles

dancers spinning

until their colours blur

like paints

under a paintbrush

a kiss

could feel

like a punch

painful and delicious

I could sell you

a tale so thrilling

that you would

lose your breath

and wish

for surrender

and we could do all this

me and the screen of white

but today

we just want

to be left alone

and let imagination

remain tied up

like a dark dog

in a dark dank dungeon

of self doubt

where the devil

on my right shoulder

whispers his sweet nothings

to my soul

writers blockfeeling downprocrastinationlack of imaginationwasting time

◄ Soldier's Box

Bag Of Bones ►

Comments

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Cynthia Buell Thomas

Tue 2nd May 2017 19:46

I liked the line 'I could SELL you/a tale so thrilling' a really discordant 'jab' which put a whole different complexion on the poet's seeming intent, yet jives excellently with the title.

Would you clue me in on the choice of '' 'right' shoulder'', since I think it is very intentional? I can speculate on many versions of 'right'; which may be the point.

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Hazel ettridge

Tue 14th Mar 2017 10:11

Gorgeous.

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Stu Buck

Sun 12th Mar 2017 16:27

brilliant as ever ian but a personal piece for me and a wonderful, subtle use of the black dog metaphor which brings the whole piece together.

<Deleted User> (13762)

Sat 11th Mar 2017 08:29

ditto Tom's comment but I desperately want to take a surgeon's knife and excise the negatives and leave only those lovely warm images but yeah, I know what you mean Ian.

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Tom Harding

Sat 11th Mar 2017 06:08

Some great flowing imagery here Ian, enjoyed it.

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