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Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

0 posted 2011-08-07 04:29 PM

The Wayside

A soulless man – silent footfalls –
Follows him who mindlessly plods.
Greeted by faces in the walls,
Barely perceptible, the shadow nods.
On mental film I have it all,
Two enter – only one returns.
With eyes forever held in thrall,
It’s the knowledge behind that burns!

The echoes of a dying man
Yet stir the alchemy of thought,
In vivid detail, a firefan
That ignites all emotion sought.
From dripping tendrils of passion
Unto the dry ice feel of haste,
I’ve seen Death work in a fashion
That leaves not a damn thing to waste.

And though I’ve tried to numb all sense –
To blot out these 3:AM drudges,
Nothing I’ve tried seems to convince;
But then maybe merely nudges…
Me along this same ol’ story
I am yet compelled to follow –
Play part in an allegory
That, at best, would prove me hollow...

And, in the end, leave me inept
To discovery of its meaning;
Charging forward where caution crept,
In all my ignorance, preening…
To watch that last spring flower bud
Lost somewhere along the wayside,
And realize, chewing the cud,
It was me who both lived and died.

Michael Anderson

Like one that on a lonesome road
Doth walk in fear and dread,
And having once turned round walks on,
And turns no more his head...

Coolridge

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius

since 2009-10-10

Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere

1 posted 2011-08-07 05:05 PM

good stuff guy, much enjoyed!
Lori

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

2 posted 2011-08-07 05:14 PM

Michael,

I would like to take a moment to
expound on the use of
punctuation.

I love it!

I believe punctuation adds so much
to poetry, it allows the mind to
sense what might have been in the
poet's heart...

thereby emcompassing all of what
was behind the pen.

Thank you for continuing a
grand tradition.

And the poem? It sang
its sweet depth of soul
all the way to the end.

"The business of the poet...is to show the sorriness underlying the grandest things and the grandeur underlying the sorriest things." Thomas Hardy

Michael

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-08-13

Posts 7666
California

3 posted 2011-08-08 05:21 PM

Lori, I'm glad you enjoyed.

K, Well now, I've always felt punctuation to be my weakness... although I do try to use it correctly, (that is to say I use it to try to bring clarity and emphasis where appropriate within the poem). I'll admit I'm scrambling for my "Write Right" book now to check what I've done here. I do hope you were serious though... and thank you if you were.

Michael

suthern

Member Seraphic

since 1999-07-29

Posts 20723
Louisiana

4 posted 2011-08-08 10:04 PM

To watch that last spring flower bud
Lost somewhere along the wayside,

This image captures hopelessness and futility so subtly and beautifully... Every line is pure excellence, but these really touch me.

ebonygirl
Member Elite

since 2011-07-14

Posts 2000
California U.S.A

5 posted 2011-08-08 10:36 PM

Michael,
Sunshine said it best.
I hope to learn the craft one day.
Ms. e

JL
Member Ascendant

since 2004-04-01

Posts 6128
Texas, USA

6 posted 2011-08-09 01:05 PM

Very much enjoyed the read.

JL

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