copyright Björn Rudberg
you hide the shadows in a voice,
that’s laced with bitter taste of
pending thunderstorms
I try to tell you words of green
and honeysuckle songs
to sooth your mind
as the electric smell increases
you explode in vitriol
burning bruises deep inside
despite my better self
& I respond – not to sooth
but with arrow words that sting
words of thunder are exchanged
like Thor we fight the giant
clouds of air between
& from demons in my words
I’m nauseous from the putrid
smell of what I say
but when you start to cry
like ice they quench my fire
and once again –
it’s over – we embrace
and scars of words will stay
& itch until they open up
when history repeats itself
but the thickness of our skin
is what makes us strong together
at dVerse, Victoria wants us to use ”synesthesia” in poetry–where you mix up sensory sensations such as “tasting a rainbow.” – pub opens at 3PM EST
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Wow, Bjorn, this is terrific. I could not say which my favorite stanza is really, as you used synesthesia so well…but I do especially like ‘scars of words will stay and itch’ and ‘arrow words that sting.’
Thank you Mary, it was very interesting to use synesthesia, I think I’ve done it before, without knowing what it was.
ha….some really cool effects in this bjorn…the voice with the bitter taste of thunderstorms up front is very cool…the scars we leave with our words is very real…very well played…
think there is something missing from this line…as the electric smell increase…maybe increases?
Ah yes my grammar darn. Sometimes my Swedish peaks through
oy…sounds all too real… we’re having a tough time in our marriage right now and try to find a way to heal that scars and get the skin sensitive for each other again..not easy though..great images björn and def. felt
I’m sorry for you, those periods are hard, and I hope you make it through those rough time. Once you are at a certain stage it’s so difficult..to go back and rarely one come out on the other side of a quarrel without some lingering effect… but in the long run I think there are so many good things that should hold us together.
This is an intense piece of writing..I so feel each and every word..scars run deep how long does it take to heal I wonder.
Every cut will be felt, we just have to live with them
Love has to contain a cornucopia of color, taste, sounds, pain that may erupt in orgasmic splendor, or turn into a canker-lump on the back or our tongue; but when it has fortitude, and has been faithful to, it can/should weather the storms of emotions, the cracks in the ego-jell; loved your rendering, sir.
Thank you.. yes love and quarrel has many elements of REAL synesthesia
Honeysuckle does soothe my mind and it is just coming into flower.
Making up is the best part. Does Donar come into this?
Donar is another name for Thor I think … related to the word thunder… Old belief was that Thunder came from Thor fighting with the Giants up in the sky.
Bjorn–this is a gorgeous poem and all by itself make me glad I went with synesthesia for the prompt. You used it so effectively, which doesn’t surprise me.
Thank you… yes I was so glad for the prompt. because it made so much sense to me, and a very useful tool I can use.
Fantastic! Great drama and language in this piece!
Thank you Buddah 🙂
You really rocked the prompt, this poem is like an exquisite chain of freeform tercets or lunes demonstrating your prowess with synesthesia, Really love this !!
Thank you so much – free poetry is a little out of my comfort zone so it’s really appreciated
Bjorn, I was in the middle of writing a comment and my internet connection failed, this happens at least twice every two months. So, here goes… You have written to this prompt with perfection and doesn’t surprise one bit. I can feel this and relate in that, yes, we sometimes don’t get along with our better half, but love does prevail. Thanks for writing this.
Pamela
Thank you so much … yes I think all relationships have their ups and downs, and some days are just destined to fights.
wow, this builds and builds until it’s set to bursting. such power in this one – killer first stanza… and gets better from there… wonderfully crafted.
Arrow words that sting, thunderstorms….I can relate as hubby and I fight with screaming matches to boot….but you know what, we make up and perhaps in starting again, we are still together, better as ever ~
Good work on this Bjorn ~
Emotive and powerful… especially like the last 5 lines (since I can relate).
i like the scars of words, because yes, words can hurt, and i like the vitrol explosion too (i like explosions, i’m an aerospace engineer, so I like jet engines and rockets)
I think this is one of your best. The scars of words, indeed. You’ve captured a lightning strike here!
Next to last stanza did it for me, “scars of words” indeed
Björn- I really liked this depiction of a quarrel and make-up.. Everyone has spats with ones they love sometimes and it’s hard but being strong together helps. This sounds too true to be pure imagination and if so I’m glad things worked out. -Mike
Very powerful and intense, something we all can relate to…such strong emotions building and then falling away to calm. Wonderful poem, and fits the prompt perfectly!
can easily relate to the emotions here – the words of thunder and the embrace.. 🙂
especially loved the first stanza – you hide the shadows in a voice,
that’s laced with bitter taste of
pending thunderstorms
I wish I knew how to successfully quarrel. I have a tendency to be too patient…until I walk! Great poem.
..a powerful end Bjorn! well-justified…. not easy though to be placed in such a dreadful situation of misunderstandings…. but i guess, we all have / must come there in some way or another…. smiles…
Words are liker arrows that do not come back once let out. I love the way you ended this notion though in the strength of the skin. Very powerful!
The bitter taste of thunderstorms a terrific opener. Great piece.
Bjorn, this is fa-bu-lous. I could see, feel, hear, taste and smell this argument developing. The superb line “arrow words that sting” will stay with me for a long time.
Thank you 🙂 This prompt came quite easy to me…
wonderful and moving poem – liked this stanza so much- ‘I try tell you words of green and honeysuckle songs to sooth your mind’- K
Nice going!! So this exchange happens all the time. I like the part about ice quenching the fire, as that does seem to have the impact and when it doesn’t, well, that’s a problem too.
This is fantastic, Bjorn. We were on the same wavelength as to the color of words–green! A powerful piece–your metaphor works wonderfully well with your diction. Excellent–and the ending reminds us how resilient we humans are.
Thank you.. yes somehow I thought of those moments when you have that fight and then reconcile.
Yes–it happens time and again–something you think the fuel of the vitriol is too much and it can scar, but in the end reconciliation is possible–and must be.
Such an emotional buildup and then, just like that, you turn the tide and gently bring us back to ground. Very well done, Bjorn.
You have truly created – no, recreated those awful fights we couples have – and done it so well.
Thank you.. and I loved your Vietnam poem.. If that’s what comes out of constant battle there is even more reason never to have war…
Bjorn, thank you for reading my work. Oh boy are you ever right about war!
Oh … love the black and white at the top! Very effective.
You wrote an excellent poem, with what I think is a tough prompt.
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