My fingers trace the indentations left
the letters of forever us — memories
of sunshine in her hair, I stand bereft
an old man lingering on enemies
embedded in the bark, her burning lies
she told before I saw her cotton dress
once clean was soiled with mud and grass
when roughness of his hands was kneading breasts.
I still recall what axe and shovels did
below the surface now the secrets lie
I know that still the roots embrace what’s hid
and soon I’ll join them when it’s time to die
But still the softness of the bark reminds
of skin she gave away — I was declined
Linked to Magpie Tales.
—
March 22, 2015
Björn Rudbergs writings 
A gothic tale, Bjorn – the line ‘I know that still the roots embrace what’s hid’ wow
give me a moment. I need to read this again
magical !
Ah, the memories remain despite all that happened. So many secrets….chilling, effective tale!
Truly, what lies beneath tells a tell of pain and betrayal. It is a wonder that the oak leaves did not turn red from the blood instead of their usual golden color.
The secrets Nature helps bury… and memory brings afloat. I want to close my eyes and imagine their story (or her and his, separate, before the rejection). You’ve set such a tale…
This is absolutely beautiful Bjorn.
Wow wow wow wow wow
I love a good tale, Björn. So difficult to find nowadays….
A true dark tale of one spurned and the memory of it. Well done, Bjorn. 🙂 — Suzanne
Sometimes the feelings of emotional rejection can have a profound effect not expected to happen to such a scale! Great write Bjorn!
Hank
Ah… I am always thrilled to read a sonnet. I thought the last 6 lines of this poem were particularly strong in taking your reader through to the conclusion.
Oh! Madness and passion in a very beautifully done way!
very dark. Love the picture of the tree…I can see images of people in it quite clearly…as if the tree itself is telling the secrets of “what lies beneath”…
love thwarted ..wow love this tale..
your poetry is no less than your prose, great
Ashes to ashes , dust to dust , under shady trees i get filled with lust !
This was great , mate
Of love ‘declined’ in such a beautiful verse. Well-crafted poem. Wish I could write this way, too.
Enchanting. Lovely, reflective thoughtful prose- Of skin she gave away, his memory of it shall last as long as the old oak stand.
“But still the softness of the bark reminds
of skin she gave away — I was declined”
stunning lines in this, Björn! a chilling tale.
Sounds like a terrifying ending ~ I specially like this part:
I still recall what axe and shovels did
below the surface now the secrets lie
A haunting close to this sonnet. You could not have chosen a more fitting form for this tale of unrequited love.and betrayal.
Oh dear! This works very well, Bjorn–a hint of mystery but a story too. k.
The “tree” knows a lot, just generally cannot tell its story. Here you did a great job of reading and reporting its soul.
Not really at all related, but we had to cut off a lot (30-50) knees from our Cypress tree out front. Not one iota of information was gleened.
..
A tightly told tale, horrific and powerful. Nice job.
Yikes! And well-wrought. (Slinking away now.)
Love your sonnets, Bjorn–this one is rich with images and language, but also tells a very old and frightening tale.
The old tree tells what woman will not. Nicely woven Bjorn.
Bittersweet and a little bit scary…
The axes and shovels line gave me a shiver. Wow!