Another poultry Christmas, and paltry indeed
bantam weighted for one, pullet pulled
piece by piece over the fattened feasting days
crisp stripped to soupy bones and skin
nothing wasted of this small fowl sacrifice, even
the whitened wishbone 

set aside to dry brittle, ready-forked
for that tug by two opposing pinkies
clavicle cleft from clavicle, the merry thought
the who-gets-the-fusion and the treasured wish
only then was I struck again, under the breast bone
winded, wounded with my loss
- the furcula, a piercing weapon, two-pronged
with only one to grasp it 

So I hold to all the invocations we ever made
with bones, on starfall, or slipping singly
through kissing gates to seal a secret silent plea
with lips; always the same one, I can now reveal
wished for you Kol Tov* (all good things) 
- even your death was merciful

35 thoughts on “the wishbone”

1. I always love to read the way you weave the words into intricate fabrics… but the sorrow of loneliness is always close to the wordplay.

   There has to be two for a wish to come true with a wishbone… hope your travel will be great.

   1. I like the notion of the intricate fabrics – thanks for that Bjorn and for your good wishes

2. Fowl for one is a weeping image, and wishbone for one intensifies it. Your word play in the last stanza was masterful and touching.

   1. Thank you for your words Glenn and for fully understanding

3. Such a beautifully written piece, I love the cleft and clavicle, both split and together and your loyalty to all the wishes made. I remember the wishbones drying on the window sill for you both to pinkie pull and wish on x

   1. Nicely observed Catherine – still can’t get out of the wishbone habit

4. Hah! Very clever use of polyptoton (which I learned about from dverse! https://dversepoets.com/2019/10/24/polyptoton/#comment-184782)

   1. Not sure I follow

5. Oh Laura this is so very poignant. I especially like; “So I hold to all the invocations we ever made
   with bones, on starfall, or slipping singly through kissing gates to seal a secret silent plea with lips.” Wishing you safe travels! 💝💝

   1. Thank you for your appreciation Sanaa – and for your good wishes

6. The best wish even unto death. (K)

   1. Indeed

7. Wonderful! Safe journey and happy travels ✈️

   1. Thank you Jude – & Not long now

8. This is such a poignant poem. Excellent word play.

   1. many thanks for understanding

9. What fun, a word feast! I love the alliteration and mix dished up.

   1. a mixed dish of emotions too

10. I admire the detailed wishbone from the fattened feasting days. But most specially the invocations for all good things (even death was merciful).

    Safe journeys and happy poeming!

    1. many thanks Grace – I hope the Muse travels with me

11. I like your description of the fowl sacrifice and the whitened wishbone.

    1. thanks Frank

12. Oh, Laura, This brought more than one tear to my eye.
    The depth and weaving of your words to create such a picture with the camera of your mind is ……. I cannot think of the proper word ….. beautifully touching. Thank you.

    1. greatly appreciated Sherwood – as you can understand the full impact of this poem and the loss of Martin

13. The wishbone rhyme took me back to childhood and my grandparents’ house, where I first heard it. We always pulled the wishbone. I enjoyed all the wordplay and alliteration, Laura, and felt that suckerpunch of winded, wounding loss. I love the lines:
    ‘So I hold to all the invocations we ever made
    with bones, on starfall, or slipping singly
    through kissing gates to seal a secret silent plea
    with lips…’

    1. brilliant description Kim – “that suckerpunch of winded, wounding loss”. Such times as the wishbone ritual brings it all back and all the days of coping disappear for a while

14. A beautiful and poignant poem Laura and I wish you a blessed time in New Zealand. The new blog you’ve created looks wonderful and I look forward to following this special journey 💜

    1. what lovely words – thank you ❤

15. Perhaps the one left with wishbone must pull with both opposing pinkies?! To borrow your words from Hebrew…Kol Tov, Laura.

    1. Yes I had to do that – thank you Lynn for your good wishes

16. A delightful read.

    1. Many thanks

17. This poem really pulled me in. But these were the lines that spoke to me most,
    “only then was I struck again, under the breast bone
    winded, wounded with my loss
    – the furcula, a piercing weapon, two-pronged
    with only one to grasp it”
    The physical experience of loss.

    1. Thank you Ali for your understanding and appreciation

18. so beautiful Laura , so touching!

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