Soul on a platter by Fabrice Poussin

The journey of a thousand years has ended

tired the little guy longs for a moment’s rest

to remember his birth, he can no longer do.

Pacing the perimeter of a house of dolls

he lets his sharp fingers seek his dying heart

from within his chest to awaken, and to revive.

Enveloped in the shroud of his fighting self

in awe at the power of trees and flowers around

he falls to the knees, hoping for hail.

What is left for his blood to do, as the river dries

all bottle up in a cistern with thickening walls

yet the echo lasts for the void of galaxies.

The package, tied with a broad bow of blue

readied for eons to be the present of all times

his beating soul devoted on a deep golden platter. 

Fabrice Poussin teaches French and English at Shorter University. Author of novels and poetry, his work has appeared in Kestrel, Symposium, The Chimes, and many other magazines. His photography has been published in The Front Porch Review, the San Pedro River Review as well as other publications.