Thoraco-omphalopagus

By ruthless48

genotype to phenotype, a zygote incompletely splits in two

research on Siamese twins

created the need to visit the formaldehyde zoo

‘Apothecary & Oddities’ could daunt most

darkened doorway, amber leaded glass, hand painted evil eye

a manicured doctorate's hand

can turn bone-creaking brass handle

and abstractly walk inside

quick survey of dusty shelves, harlequin masks, taxidermy, velvet case of surgical steel

behind carved wizard canes, straight jacket strings,

her find in a glass jar, to see she must kneel

old man behind heavy display case and spectacles barely moves an eye

she thrusts the sloshing specimen skyward

'a price?' so she can retrieve after the buy

she approaches netherworld’s pharmacy

between herself, old man, research specimen and the door

he half smiles and words ‘no cash’, but exchange of time

‘four hours’ in the store
as he hands a leather apron to don, instead of lab coat

she notes scientific time, smirks magic

& of her new ‘free’ specimen gloats

a swollen bellied black cat has man’s belt for collar too tight

she loosens it to release a constant broken mournful sound

old man reaches to cinch back the belt restoring the afternoon’s peaceful underground

tasks of tincture mixing, dally with customers

unearthing backroom treasures to storeroom table tops

time moves quickly until the last 15 minutes, clock hands seem to stop

old wrinkled reach congratulates her with a toast for her well earned prize

the drink touches her lips to burn as she watches his cataract eyes

she wakes in blood velvet bed

a younger man wrapped around her waist caress

a yoke of chains and beads laid upon her naked body and breasts

she lifts her left forearm

a series of scars and burns lead to a wedding ring

encrypted in posey gothic

semper amemus ~ no recollection to bring

yet she doesn’t stir as the young man softly kisses her neck

falling deeper into slumber

in this room, a Victorian time warp net

‘I had a dream’ she muses aloud

as to any cognition she could persist

‘I had a dream,

I was a scientist.’

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.

Published on Monday, April 23, 2012. Filed under: "Fantasy" and "Poetry"

Author's Note:

inspired from a dream

Comments on "Thoraco-omphalopagus"

On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, FadedBlues (2096) wrote:

...outrageous title. you must have slept for a month to encompass all this in 1 dream...very abstract & neurotic.
On Tuesday, April 24, 2012, ruthless48 (172) wrote:

so glad you like it, thank you. it is medical term for cojoined twins at the chest who share a heart and liver.
On Monday, April 23, 2012, dwells (4177) wrote:

Wow R, this was great, never suspected a dream, but still had an overall sense of foreboding. Well done and thanks for sharing.
On Monday, April 23, 2012, ruthless48 (172) wrote:

deeply thankful, dwells, of your words~ a dream . . . or was it? your choice :)
A former member wrote: Whoa. I'm pretty sure I smelled the formaldehyde and tripped over a shiver. This was somehow science, steampunk, sensual, and scary all in one. Congratulations. I only wish I could write this detailed.
On Monday, April 23, 2012, ruthless48 (172) wrote:

profoundly humbled, thank you, this imagery came to me in a dream, last night