Possession

[Apostrophe]

He settled inside me,
phantom tendrils
squeezing
my lungs
and wringing my heart.
He would show on X-ray,
I'm sure, in mottled cancer-shade,
the texture of haunting.

Did you know? A wraith has weight.
I carry him always, a burden that bends my back,
a heaviness of bones.

Oh, to slough him from my soul!
Let him escape in exhalation,
a gray mist mass that hangs
like cigarette smoke:
exorcised with a final sigh.

Oh, to at last reclaim,
possess, myself!

[PrinceMyshkin]

This is very lucid and rational, maybe too lucid and rational because on the basis of the evidence here your struggle is the sort that might have called for an exorcist, and yet your exposition (especially the last two lines) is too much under control.

[Apostrophe]

@Prince Myshkin, That's a very literal interpretation, but I understand where you're coming from.

[Bar22do]

What I read here is N's desire to free her/himself from wrath and to re-possess her/himself at last... wrath itself is aptly described, vivid images share the horror one goes through when in wrath's clutches... very well done, Apostrophe, thanks for sharing... and best from me, Bar

[Jerrybaldy]

wraith n. An apparition of a living person that appears as a portent just before that
person's death.

I had to google this as I have not heard of it before. You have done a great job of creating darkness and despair within your words, but now I am a little confused about the wraith!! My initial thought before googling was that N was posssessed by another person, maybe a lover, from whom she desparately needs to escape.
cheers
JB

[BookBeauty]

One thing's for sure: You know how to use words very effectively. I'm going to have to come back to this one. :)

[aliengirl]

In my opinion, N is possessed by a former lover/person (hence wraith) from whose memory she wants to escape. But its hold is too deep, like a burden on conscience. So finally through self-control she gets rid of its haunting power.

Anyway, the poem has some very evocative images. Whether my interpretation is correct or not, I enjoyed it.

[Apostrophe]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Aliengirl hit it perfectly. JerryBaldy, the person "haunting" the N is about to suffer a metaphorical death, since they will cease to exist for N.

[DieterM]

I very much enjoyed this poem; it has a perfect flow, and vivid images. What I foound outstanding was
"… He would show on X-ray,
I'm sure, in mottled cancer-shade,
the texture of haunting…"
Reminded me of myself, not so long ago, with stupid dreams I didn't want to have, even after I thought everything was over and done with. Thanks for sharing!

[hallaig]

Excellent piece of work. Not sure if the first 5 lines are necessary. Why not just start with 'He would show on X-Ray...' Be a much better beginning and there's nothing you said in the first 5 lines that aren't implied or stated later. In the same vein do you need 'a burden that bends my back'? No a great fan of the Oh! stuff either.

[aliengirl]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Aliengirl hit it perfectly. JerryBaldy, the person "haunting" the N is about to suffer a metaphorical death, since they will cease to exist for N.

Welcome Apostrophe. :) I had some experience of this sort of haunting, so got it right.