There’s nothing quite as simple as
a coffin-nail. A dead unwanted piece
inert and sharp that does its job
encasing what was once the life
the moving limbs, the sins. Saving past
but not the plans. It marks an end,
the state of limbo just before the worms
transforms what was to flowerbeds.
But after years when wits have dimmed.
be sure to check: the coffin-nail remains.
Black on Black by Ellsworth Kelly
We celebrate the Chinese New Year with Toni at dVerse by using Fortune cookies as inspiration. Mine is the title actually. Check out all those much better poems at when we open at 3PM EST.
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February 9, 2016
Björn Rudbergs writings 
This is powerful, and so true. Nails always symbolises of indestructibility.
That was an intense read: yes indeed that nail remains! AWESOME write.
I loved this part:”the state of limbo just before the worms
transforms what was to flowerbeds.”, because I think it is extra interesting. I don’t know in other countries, but in order for flowers to grow a different color than their seed signifies, a few nails is dug into the ground just around the seed (and the color truly changes!). Yet, so many coffins are lowered into the ground, but the graveflowers never even blossom.
Okay, then. This works for Ash Wednesday, too…”remember, man…” I like the starkness of it all, the reminder that what remains is not really what makes us “us.”
BTW, I like the form, too. Will have to learn about it. It worked well for this poem.
It’s like a short sonnet… and I use freeverse form… (too lazy for sonnets today).
Works well in free verse. Thanks.
Long live free verse, brother. A stark & honest stab at the prompt, a bit sobering but passionately poetic.
I like the idea of a sonnetina. New form for me. And yes, after all else would decay a coffin nail would stay!
In University, on a practice “dig”, we students helped to recover an old graveyard so the remains could be moved to a new location. so many of the old wooden coffins crumbled under our hands but those coffin nails and the bones remained.
I read this as being a directive on how to write poetry: sharp and to the point. When the poet’s mind is gone, his expressions and penetrations (writ[h]ings) remain.
I like what you did in turning “limbs” into “limbo.” Also, the word “remains” at the end makes me think of the word “mainline,” as it is related to shooting up drugs, which is certainly what some people do with poetry/literature.
The discussion on coffin nails is actually inspired by Dickens, “a Christmas Carol” – Marlow was dead as a coffin nail.
Indeed.
Such a powerful write!!
This is really profound …I like the deep thought towards what one might totally overlook. Nice one Bjorn!
This feels like an abbreviated sonnet to me, a fine form for expressing such a dark subject. Well done, Sir.
There’s that somber finality to the ending couplet ~ Love the sonnet like poem Bjorn ~
Ha, that last couplet, yes, indeed!
Nice form in this. Love your point about how the nail does its job, but then remains long after it is no longer needed
I love the way you treat dark subjects.
Goodness… from dust to dust…it is that simple in the end!
Goodness me – that was a bit of a sombre take on the prompt! But you really ‘hammered’ that nail home!
Keep it simple: the coffin nail will look the same for all of us. Indeed.
Never thought of it that way, Bjorn.Yes, the nail is about what’s left. Other parts would just rot away. One needs to be as tough as nails to sustain better one’s influence in life.
Hank
You nailed it!
🙂 Couldn’t resist…..
The simplicity of death is taken to its very essence when you are left with just the coffin nail. And we do feed the flowers and the worms in the end…the beauty and the beast.
Well done.
Deep and powerful. I like it.
There’s a quote from Muhammed, PBUH, that this made me think of. It says. “Trust in God but tie your camel” Always have to check those nails. I enjoyed this very much!
sharp and long living just as some poems are….
the state of limbo just before the worms
transforms what was to flowerbeds. < awesome.
yes, it is so simple. Death is God’s way of telling you to slow down. i’m glad at least there’s somewhere the tax man can’t go. Thanks
A bit too close for comfort for this old bat. But I’m all in favour of simplicity!
I like both the thoughts and the versification.
Awesome juxtaposition – the enduring nail: the last vestige of a once living human being. The simplicity of it: spooky and real.