O at the Edges

Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.

Shadow Charm

Posted on February 24, 2018 by robert okaji

Shadow Charm

When you place your mouth
to my ear

how does the ocean know
which wave

to relinquish?
In your darkness I find teeth.

Blessings of the meek-throated.

A ribbed tunnel. Codicil.

Your tongue scrawls: too late,
the unsaid nerve-sparked and

dilated too late

And my skin replies: with
lightning all strikes

count to each its charge

“Shadow Charm” was published in August 2017 in The Icarus Anthology.

15 thoughts on “Shadow Charm”

ebbtide on February 23, 2018 at 9:58 am said:

“how does the ocean know which wave to relinquish?” absolutely stunning ❤

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- robert okaji on February 23, 2018 at 11:53 am said:
  
  Thank you, Sarah!
  
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trE on February 23, 2018 at 12:53 pm said:

This is superb, Robert! From start to finish, a solid poem!

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- robert okaji on February 23, 2018 at 2:35 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Tre!
  
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  - trE on February 23, 2018 at 3:00 pm said:
    
    You’re most welcome, Robert!
    
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rothpoetry on February 23, 2018 at 4:03 pm said:

Wonderful Bob! …and how long till the thunder rolls!!
Dwight

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- robert okaji on February 23, 2018 at 4:10 pm said:
  
  It rolled in the wee hours this morning, Dwight. 🙂
  
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  - rothpoetry on February 23, 2018 at 4:15 pm said:
    
    How good is that!! :>)
    
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ivor20 on February 23, 2018 at 4:49 pm said:

I do love a good storm, and how the human senses react to the sudden brightness and awakening sound.

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- robert okaji on February 23, 2018 at 4:52 pm said:
  
  I sometimes find them somewhat comforting. Other times, not so much. Ha!
  
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  - ivor20 on February 23, 2018 at 5:08 pm said:
    
    That shivers down the spine feeling can either be good or bad. 😊
    
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derrickjknight on February 24, 2018 at 3:39 am said:

Stunning

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- robert okaji on February 24, 2018 at 10:14 am said:
  
  Thank you, Derrick.
  
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brandtschubbe on February 24, 2018 at 9:55 pm said:

I appreciate this.

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- robert okaji on February 25, 2018 at 8:28 am said:
  
  Thank you, Brandt.
  
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