Just reflecting on a horrible event I witnessed yesterday . . .
Comments welcome!
Cheers!
John X
Road Kill
This morning on my way to work
I smoked a cigarette.
A breeze was blowing soft and warm
and then – I can’t forget . . .
The wind was stilled by thrashing legs –
respect, for all I know.
A body arched and writhed in pain
with nowhere left to go.
A broken neck and upside down
two pleading eyes met mine,
“I’m still alive, God help me –
I want no roadside shrine!”
I stared transfixed at certain death
I prayed for Life’s swift end,
for Mercy’s wheels to run dead straight,
but coming round the bend
a string of careful drivers drove,
avoiding what they saw
in front of them in central view –
red blood and tooth and claw.
And now the thrashing slowed in pace
yet still those eyes shone bright –
I longed to rise above that look
and stamp with all my might
my heel upon that rictus stare
to flatten that poor head,
but round the corner came a van,
which did my job instead.
So here I stand and look again
at what has gone before –
a purple stain, a patch of fur
and nothing, nothing more.
Tomorrow they’ll be even less –
A faint discolouration . . .
How swiftly does the Train of Life
arrive at its last station!
|
Written by Diddi (80 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
I know this. I have seen it and suffered with the animal.
You have written this beautifully, with feeling and care.
I'm not going to 'nitpick' it, I don't need to.
I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated this poem. |
Written by Brett (785 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
A truly horrific experience, John, one I too have been witness to.
The lines that sum up the sadness of this event, for me at least, are;
'Tomorrow they'll be even less -
A faint discolouration...'
Cheers |
"life's a bitch
Written by fellpony (1616 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
then you die."
I've seen my share of animal deaths. But whether it's a human or an animal, death is always a stark reminder of mortality to the onlooker. If it isn't, there is something wrong with the onlooker, or the society. |
Written by lovelysarah1984 (81 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
A really good poem despite its content. Another great work Katie-John.
xxx |
Written by Veronica_Milvus (637 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
Horrible! but I agree that the "faint discolouration" was the poignant phrase.
I once nearly ran over a wolverine in Oxfordshire... at least, it could have been a badger with no stripes - or maybe a very large persian cat... |
Written by Phil (6730 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
As FP, reminders of mortality are uncomfortable at best. That there's a connection (seemingly) made between man and beast, especially at that moment, drives it home.
Well put.
Phil |
Sincerity
Written by patterjack (1194 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
shines through the simplicity -- your best thing yet
patterjack |
Very Strange!
Written by Katanga (1229 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
I am sincerely very grateful for the comments from all of you great writers above - truly so!
Strange?
Yes, because I wrote this in ten minutes while VERY stressed - it was a real experience, and maybe that's what counts. I mean, it wasn't a 'forced' poem - it just 'had to be written'.
I wrote all the stanzas seperately while running frantically between various crises at work . . .
My point being - maybe stress/pressure adds an edge?
Do you have the same / similar?
Dunno! But mightily pleased with your reviews above!
Thank you guys so much . . .
4.30 a.m. and now perchance to sleep?
Katie
XXX |
Written by briarcroft (37 comments posted) 20th June 2008 |
| bitterly poignant and painful--you've captured this moment of tragedy that stays with one, long after the animal is removed--its needless sacrifice remains like the purple stain you describe |
Written by Brett (785 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
Out of interest, Tolstoy, what animal was it?
Cheers |
Written by mia_ms_kim (1019 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
I felt your shock, horror and the sense of pathos in the aftermath. In oz, dead animals on the highway is quite a common sight. I've seen dogs, cats, birds, kangaroos, wombats, possums etc, and over the years I've become desensitised to the sight. But this piece seems to resensitise me to the plight of each creature, their fear, confusion and suffering.
A powerful piece, John.
Mia |
Poignant...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
A wild animal (in particular) killed on the road is a truly sad kind of death - a stark reminder that we as humans have invaded their territory and made it a brutal place, purely for our convenience.
When I see an adult fox or badger - I also think of the abandoned brood we may have left to starve.
Oli
 |
Ah, Brett!
Written by Katanga (1229 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
Thanks again to all above and now to Briarcroft (love your barn roof pic!), Brett, Mia and Talisker, who have posted encouraging comments since mey last 'thanks' message!
Brett - what animal? Interesting question, since I suppose it's supposed to be almost irrelevant . . .
I am trying to 'universalise' the idea, and feel that naming the specific animal would detract from this and make it rather 'twee'.
It's really about people and the incredible waste of life in the world.
I hope I am right not to specify in the text?
I'm not really sentimental about animals usually - it was the stark ghastliness of what I saw that got me . . .
I was preoccupied with mundane work matters (I never saw the car hit it), and when I first saw the creature, I thought it was rolling on its back almost playfully, trying to scratch off fleas. How sweet, I naively thought, but how silly to do it in the middle of the road!
It was only after a few seconds that I realised it was in its death-throws. Grim.
Okay, it was a wretched squirrel - 'a rat with good PR', as my ex-boss once said.
That's probably ruined it for anyone who thought it was a cat?!
Does it matter?
BTW, which Shakespearian character said something like "The beetle that we tread upon doth feel a pain as great . . ."?
Cheers!
John X
|
Isabella
Written by Brett (785 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
in Measure For Measure.
'And the poor beetle that we tread upon
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great
As when a giant dies.'
Was just curious about the animal, Tolstoy - you're right I shouldn't have asked!
Cheers |
Wow Brett!
Written by Katanga (1229 comments posted) 21st June 2008 |
That was quick off the mark - thanks!
And yes, you were quite right to ask!
'It is only through detail that the universal becomes apparent.'
Now, who said that, I wonder?
I did! Ha! Ha! Ha! (or have I pinched it?)
I'm sure V. would approve?! The basis of Scientific verification and truth, surely?! Ho!
Talking of which, I verified my prediction - today I looked in the road, and there was only a 'faint discolouration' left.
And nothing at the side of the road.
All the bones and guts and fur must be rolling round north London stuck in the tyre treads of all the cars that ran over the sad corpse in the last 24 hours or so - probably hundreds . . .
What a thought, eh?
I am going to place a white rose on the spot tomorrow and retreat to the pavement to see how long it takes for it to disappear into the tyre treads of tomorrow's motorists . . .
Call me sad and sentimental - I revel in it!
Ho! Ho!
Cheers!
Homer (aka KYJ) X
|
Written by Robru (219 comments posted) 23rd June 2008 |
You have written a beauty here. A taking of life so casual by road users and in a short time nothing left but a stain. Sad, but true. Out here there are kangaroos. One of them can wreck you cars front if you are not careful. However the truckies just don't worry.
I'm off to read Road Kill 2 now. I want to know how long the rose lasts. |
Not long!
Written by Katanga (1229 comments posted) 26th June 2008 |
A rose is even more transient than a squirrel!
Thanks again All - I'm off back to penning trivia!
John X |
Only registered users can rate and write comments.
Please login or register.
Previous item
