Attention #short prose #prose poem #poetry

short prose 1 Minute

I resurrected him.

It was a mischievous act meant to attract the attention of mortals.

Instead I attracted some demons determined to follow me. I locked them in the sockets of time.

I feed them through cracks which propagate at the speed of light.

Bleeding rays of dark suns and dust left from what used to be your affection for me. 

Words left to dry like laundry in the wind.

Words chewing my soul like termites in wood.

My poetic rapport with myself is bad. 

My alter ego hisses like a snake at every word I write.

What’s the truth? I have no idea.

Any act meant to attract attention displaces the truth.

@Gabriela Marie Milton

image: mehmetcan’s portfolio; Shutterstock; [link]

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Published by Gabriela Marie Milton

Gabriela Marie Milton #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, 2019 Author of the Year at Spillwords Press NYC; internationally published poet; poetry collections Woman: Splendor and Sorrow (Vita Brevis Pres, July 27, 2021); Passions: Love Poems and Other Writings (Vita Brevis Press, April, 2020)

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83 thoughts on “Attention #short prose #prose poem #poetry”

  3. From the dark side? I found it extremely compelling, Gabriela. I especially liked “Words chewing my soul like termites in wood.”. The vision of the slow, methodical consumption and subsequent destruction of the wood really drove this point home.

    Reply

    1. Hey Rob, thank you so much for your comment. I didn’t think too much when I wrote this piece. When I write thinking is not what I do. Now that you pointed out those lines I see it. I am happy you did. Thank you again.
      Have a beautiful rest of the day.

      Reply

    1. Aw… Did you write “stunning”? I hope you meat it because coming from you, Bojana, means a lot. xoxo

      Reply

      2. Thank you soooo much.
        It took me a while to find your piece in Eunoia, but I found it. An excellent poem, Bo. You are a fantastic writer.

      6. Probably. But if I click on the link I see about 7 posts or so before I can see your poem.
        Anyway, it does not matter. Your piece is gorgeous.

    1. Thank you so much, Chrisssie. I am delighted you enjoyed it.
      Have a beautiful rest of the day.
      Gabriela

      Reply

    1. Good afternoon, David, Thank you very much for your kind comment. The last line… I was hoping somebody would notice that one. I am thrilled it caught your attention. It means a lot to me.
      I hope everything is well with you.
      Have fabulous afternoon.
      G.

      Reply

      1. You are very welcome. I am sure the last has caught or will catch many people’s attention, as it certainly speeks to an overlooked and startling truth.
        Everything is quite well with me, thank you, and I hope the same is true for you. You have a fabulous afternoon as well.

    1. Thank you so much, Eric. I am humbled by your comment and by the amount of words you used. Seriously it means a lot to me.
      All my life I was told “think”. No wonder I want to break free from time to time.
      It’s late on your side of the pound. Have a magical night, Eric. Thank you once again.

      Reply

  12. Oh G! Well, this is just magnificent. I felt a magnetic attraction to every word of this start to finish – let alone how the mortals and demons in your poem felt.
    I can’t express how much I love this.
    “I locked them in the sockets of time”

    Good, I hope they stay there and suffer at least a little bit of an electric shock. Sounds like they deserve it. My advice, they need a little more starvation.

    “My poetic rapport with myself is bad
    My alter ego hisses like a snake at every word I write.”

    Well, your poetic rapport with your readers speaks for itself, and at every word you write, my alter ego sighs like a poet under a moon, in front of a stormy sea, heart filled with the emotions so evocative in your poem. That’s my truth. Sorry I’m so wordy in describing it. I’m in awe of you.
    😘🌺💝🌸

    Reply

    1. Rachel, thank you so much for your fabulous comment.
      “Good, I hope they stay there and suffer at least a little bit of an electric shock. Sounds like they deserve it. My advice, they need a little more starvation.” You put a smile on my face this evening. If they need more starvation I probably should stop giving them anything to eat 🙂
      You words are more beautiful than my writing. Did you notice that? “my alter ego sighs like a poet under a moon, in front of a stormy sea, heart filled with the emotions..” This is a poem in itself. You are so gorgeous Rachel. Your words and your kindness are beyond.
      Thank you again for the praise.
      Lots of love and hugs to you.
      G.

      Reply

      1. I was thinking about this poem, how excellent it is, and your diversity as a writer. And then I just got awestruck again and decided this one definitely belongs in my long list of faves of yours. Honestly, I know it sounds gushy but I mean every word. And, if anything I wrote before sounded poetic, it was all inspired by your words. I’ll stop there, because I don’t want you to spend all your time responding to comments, I want you to write, be free, do everything you need to do.
        Love and hugs back (and peonies).

      2. Aw.. Rachel, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
        “Your diversity as a writer.” Rachel, you are so perceptive. I wrote my first novel in one year. The next two came out the next year.
        And that was it. I stopped because I had other things to write and I couldn’t sustain anymore the amount of work I was supposed to do. However, one of my critics noted my “capacity of diversifying the language.” I am translating now and I am not a good translator at all. I had formal training in French and German, not in English. I learned English watching movies, listening to music, and reading. When I went to the grad school my problem was not math, statistics or logic as usually is for most students. It was English. I prepared myself for the GRE reading the English dictionary. Haha! I was the only one doing that in my group. Everybody else had formal training in English. Even now my research assistant – who reads my articles before I submit them – comes in my office and starts: Gabriela I told you when to use “in” instead of “into”; “on” instead of “onto” “to” instead of “at” etc. She gets exasperated 🙂 She is great and I am fortunate to have her.
        “And, if anything I wrote before sounded poetic, it was all inspired by your words.” Rachel you really filled my heart with joy. All I want to leave behind me is inspiration. I want my words, my work and my actions to inspire people. That’s all. Is it too much? I do not know.
        Sorry for this long reply sweetheart. I got your love, your hugs and the peonies are beautiful. Thank you again.
        Have a fabulous rest of the week, Rachel. Be love.

      3. I saw this this morning and have been itching to respond all day but had a busy day at work.

        “All I want to leave behind me is inspiration. I want my words, my work and my actions to inspire people. That’s all. Is it too much? I do not know.”

        It is not too much for you to want dear G, because, it is precisely what you do. I think the responses that you get from your poems here are testimony to that, and then, if I start speaking for myself… honestly, sometimes when I write I almost try and channel a little of the beauty I see you infuse your work with. Of course I can’t, that kind of magic can only come from you, but still… it helps my creativity. It inspires me no end. And reading your poems is an absolute treat, I don’t know how you weave words the way you do, but you do, time and time again. And then on top of that you manage to make me (and many others) feel amazing about our own writing, and grace us with glimpses of your loveliness and kindness. I can’t believe you say that English was difficult for you, but perhaps your flexibility and knowledge of language is one of the many factors in your greatness.

        Well, this is a gushy comment, so apologies for that 😂. You have a wonderful week too. Xoxoxo

      4. My dearest Rachel,
        Sorry for my late reply. This beautiful comment mysteriously ended in my spam folder.
        Thank you from the bottom of my heart, sweetheart. You are a gem.
        You should feel amazing about your writings because they are amazing. Every poem of yours is a dream as beautiful as your soul. I mean it.

        Wishing you a fabulous rest of the week.
        And oh, Rachel…
        xoxoxo

      5. Awww sometimes the spam folder is sneaky. But I do love it when I check it and find a little unexpected gem amongst the “hairstyles” and “amoxicillin” etc 😂 xoxoxo

      6. Haha! This is great Rachel.
        Hairstyles and amoxicillin may come handy sometimes. The problem is when I find Viagra. I can’t do anything with it 🙂
        Love and hugs sweetheart.

  17. I resurrected him.
    It was a mischievous act meant to attract the attention of mortals.
    Instead I attracted some demons determined to follow me.

    What brilliant opening lines. They drew me in immediately. Another great work, Gabriela!

    Reply

  22. A bit different than what I usually expect from you and I love the narrative contained here. The story element is intriguing! HAve you ever thought of revisiting some of these and continuing the “story?”

    Reply

    1. Most of the short prose pieces I post are excerpts from a book I am writing. Yet, at the pace I am going I have no idea when I can finish.
      Anyway, thank you again for reading and for the support.
      Have a beautiful weekend.

      Reply
  23. Pingback: Attention #shortprose #prose #poetry — Short Prose – Alchemical One

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