ignored by meandering seabirds
thrusting beaks into retreating waves
the bottle sat sealed
the occupant
a cylinder of paper rolled
into a tight tube
the way a child would
form a makeshift telescope
no ethereal genie ready to escape
in a plume of silver smoke
no trio of wishes to be granted
by pulling the cork
only paper
paper and words written inside
so that the tube must be unrolled
and held up to the light
do not forget
do not forget
but please
do not remember
——
Jane Dougherty Writes
Poetry challenge #31: Message in a bottle
Words and Feathers 
That’s what I like about your poetry—just when I grasp a tiny spark of hope, you snuff it out 🙂
Ha ha ha! Thank you, Jane. Guess I’m not wired to write about rainbows. Unless they’re apocalyptic.
Favourite line: ‘the bottle sat sealed’ – so musical! I love your work!!!
Thank you! There’s just something so cool when alliteration works.
Indeed! I hope you don’t mind but I’ve taken that line and turned it into something else. Will pingback you.
Cool!
Good thing that message is sealed! (K)
[…] Inspired by the ever-inspiring Crow […]
The medium is the message, indeed. 😉
Nice twist.
Thank you!
[…] (poem 20160519) – Caw! […]
Goosebumps again! I like the switch from looking through to looking at.