Betrayal of the Grim Reaper

By Reba Kalita

Flower terminology-

In the Victorian era, White hemlocks were a symbolism of death and misfortune.Although it is a very pretty plant, it’s deathly poisonous. Similarly, yellow roses symbolize jealousy.

Marigolds symbolise the ending of a life cycle and morning glories symbolise one-sided love.

Spider lilies symbolize death.

The wild parsnips are a kind of invasive plant that cause severe skin burns.

Red poppies and belladonnas  are flowers usually used as hallucinogens and drugs.

The “inflorescence of  Danbune’s” here is a reference taken from the story of the forget-me-not flowers.

Betrayal of the Grim Reaper

Bony white phalanges

holding a cracked snath,

His frame white and old,

His eyes, devoid and cold,

His presence’s omnipresent.

For, even in an abundance of daffodils,

he mimics the Danbune’s  inflorescence.

A trail of spider lilies,

always stalking my back–

The delicate yet comforting odour,

making me feel special,

as the sole bestowed-

of  his magnificent sight.

My hands reach out inadvertently,

The minute skeleton fissures;

questioning my own morality-

making death seem more comforting,more moral.

And as if it knew, it disappeared,

abandoning me in my own misery.

The figure,once again, 

leans on my bedroom wall,

His prideful scythe laced with vermillions-

burying me in a grave of yellow roses.

The depraved hollow sockets gawk me,

as if reading my thoughts-

The sinful thoughts I so try to abandon in the mist

of my scalding showers.

Once again, 

I watch him waltz,

The melodious marigolds surrounding the main characters-

The reaper and the beautiful soul,

as I weep in my own field of hemlocks and parsnips.

Is my soul not appealing?

Is it that defective?

Oh, how infuriating it is!Why gift me your presence,

if the scythe’s never laced with my vermillion?

Why tread after me,

If nothing follows but morning glories?

Why trap me in your sickening belladonnas-

if you won't dance with me?

By Reba Kalita