Poetry Corner

[mattbcl]

...man, Oslo, I wish there was something profound or constructive I could say in response to that, besides the vague condolences or reassurances your piece already mentioned. But I will say that you've inspired me... I needed the writing gates to unlock and this may help.

-------------------

Find the Real

Seated on the bench, alone on either side
stared wordlessly past the menagerie of faceless heads
watched the screen while it shared
the secrets of the meaning behind existence itself
the man before it dared his audience to find
the reality, the beauty, the truth
situated somewhere within
the veil of lies and deceit they face daily

It was not pointlessness
to bear mute witness to the demonstration
he spoke the truth
and I know it... we all know it
even if we didn't bob our heads in agreement
even if we stood up and denied with one voice
we know it is real

"How did I get here?"
"Why am I here?"
"What is good?"
"What is evil?"
"What is truth?"
"What is real?"

He pointed out and rightly so
that even the least of us
will ask these most profound questions
questions the universe will not answer
and so we must for ourselves

He asked me to stand up
and I did, because he needed me
and perhaps he needs me
more than I realize

Now he sits at home, before his own screen
and his family has moved on to other things
and I wonder if he feels alone

He was close to giving up so long ago
and I wonder what drives him to continue now

Maybe he found what's real.

[Chris 2.1]

Epilogue

Funny foam from beer,
Years before, we've been here.
Hair much shorter, still so handsome
Deep blue eyes hold me to ransom.

Funny how we panicked, often
The grip upon each other's softened
and you got what you really wanted -
She looks pretty, I'm not bias.

Spilled just like the liqueur, secrets;
Yet you still keep something from me.
Tell me, man that was a boy,
Sitting cross-legged, looking coy
why do you deprive me of
the truth
as if I can't withstand it?

Like a bomb you detonated
several times
and I surrendered.
Heart and soul went into yours
A mould that filled forever more
We made a coin and flipped it over
But you wished on tainted clover.
Damn you! Irish luck was granted
Now you're loving her: fanatic.

As I lie so close to you
and hear you snore into the corners of the room
I feel a tear
a trickled quiet
that's you leaving me,
appliance.

[Gavin Luper]

Epilogue

Funny foam from beer,
Years before, we've been here.
Hair much shorter, still so handsome
Deep blue eyes hold me to ransom.

Funny how we panicked, often
The grip upon each other's softened
and you got what you really wanted -
She looks pretty, I'm not bias.

Spilled just like the liqueur, secrets;
Yet you still keep something from me.
Tell me, man that was a boy,
Sitting cross-legged, looking coy
why do you deprive me of
the truth
as if I can't withstand it?

Like a bomb you detonated
several times
and I surrendered.
Heart and soul went into yours
A mould that filled forever more
We made a coin and flipped it over
But you wished on tainted clover.
Damn you! Irish luck was granted
Now you're loving her: fanatic.

As I lie so close to you
and hear you snore into the corners of the room
I feel a tear
a trickled quiet
that's you leaving me,
appliance.

A really powerful piece, Chris. I'm thinking I know what it's about, and it's quite devastatingly portrayed. The line "the grip upon each other's softened" was really quite clever and profound, I thought. Was it meant to be "biased", not "bias", though?

In any case, it made for a moving read.

[Chris 2.1]

Thanks Gavin, and yes, your correction was, er, correct. I find the more I try and think about writing, the less I get done. Last night, after quite an emotionally heavy weekend previously, I just put everything down on paper.

But even though I drew on some personal experience, the poem was meant to look generally at relationships, their destructive and exhaustive power. Particularly when someone who has been 'the other man' suddenly realises their partner is cheating. A sort of role-reversal.

Really appreciate the feedback

[Shadow Wolf]

Ai

A soul seeking it…
A million more craving it…
But no one gives it!