Sunday, March 28, 2010

Gathered Things

I find myself sweeping up the shards of something I broke. A now unidentifiable thing that fell from my hands moments before, as I was still lost in some place between consciousness and the alternative.

The broom I am using has a long, crude wooden handle and as I sweep furiously, gathering the pieces in a blurry heap and raising enough dust to make my eyes water, my hands begin to bleed.

It is then that I hear a voice which surely must be my mother's telling me things I already know. You have left too many things unfinished. There have been other things shattered and gathered. You go too close to the brink. Too close.

I do not look up. A voice is nothing to see. I finish gathering the pieces as a pale drop of blood trickles down the handle and disappears into the head of the broomsticks. I tell myself that the breaking of this thing will be different from my other failings. This one will not have fallen to the earth in vain.

I step carefully across the yard of swept up pieces. Spitting the phlegm that has gathered in my throat as far as I can. I let the broom lean against the mud wall and and sit on an overturned mortar in the backyard. It is then that the real tears come.

21 comments:

Jennifer A. said...

Wow. You are actually back!

I liked this.

Porter deHarqourt said...

hey thanks Jaycee. I'm here o.

Chris Ogunlowo said...

Beautiful piece.

Welcome back.

Rayo said...

this is so hauntingly beautiful! lovely!

Porter deHarqourt said...

@aloofar: thank you man. it's good to be back
@rayo: thanks for reading

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

so beautifully written. Ah, you are back!!!!!

I saw your comment at Easier and had to blink a couple times to make sure that it was indeed you.

I hope you are okay and that your family is well. (You were AWOL for a year, so those were the things I wondered about.)

Welcome back!

bArOquE said...

Porter, i guess you've been here, but are you really back, for good??? where have you been?

Porter deHarqourt said...

@Solomonsydelle: hey thanks. everything was/is okay and it feels good to be back in the 'ville.
@Barouque: my brother. i've been ok and around. just wasn't writing. i'm here now though. how have u been sef?

Beautiful said...

first time here.
beautiful piece

Porter deHarqourt said...

@beautiful: thank you

SOLOMONSYDELLE said...

ol boy, time neva reach for update? =)

Anonymous said...

First time here and I can already see that you're a great writer. Will be coming for more so please update.

Porter deHarqourt said...

@Solomonsydelle: I have one word for you. Fortunately, it is written at the bottom of Suru's profile picture :D

@Suru: I'll update soon. Thanks for reading , and for your kind words.

Ibilola said...

Yay ! - d writer is back!
Really missed you o! As always only u can paint a picture so vividly with words.

I'm still chewing 'some place between consciousness and the alternative' -- absolutely beautiful.

So glad u're back. Now if we can get jaja back as well - i'll b complete.

dScR?Be said...

LOVE IT! As i always have!
Welcome bruv

♥♫♪nyemoni♫♪♥ said...

Porter!!!!!!!!!!!

tiwiex said...

hmmm. so everyone noticed your absence. wish i could write a quatre as good as you do. It's June and that piece was in March. Please don't stop writing. Don't.

Funlayo said...

Where are you?

Unknown said...

i don't understand

the 'phlegm' part is disgusting because i can see it in my head.

Funlayo said...

Where are you?
Law school is done.

tiwiex said...

i used to enjoy reading your piece. You haven't written much in a while. I pray you figure a way to make a great blog site like Linde Ikeji (or something like that). You write awesome. Maybe your luck fans can throw you some ideas.