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Open Poetry #48
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California

0 posted 2013-07-13 01:35 AM



The Bottle


With sails set to the skies on
Winds, ever still and strange,
I look out to a horizon
That never seems to change.
I’ve been searching forever
On this invisible sea,
Not sure that I will ever
Know what reward waits for me.

Somewhere, off in the distance,
I know answers must exist;
Driven on by persistence
Toward something I can’t resist.
The maps all torn and faded
While no stars dare touch the sky,
I can’t help but feel jaded
With no water to descry.

I’ve seen darkness, I’ve seen shadow,
And I’ve seen lights shining bright.
I’ve seen the eyes of men glow,
Then fade black, beyond all sight.
Yet never hear that stirring sound
That calls a man by name,
But merely echoes that resound
To a voyage of pain.

Grief merely decoration,
It slowly strips you of soul;
While you learn anticipation
Is a curse you can’t console—
Helplessly wait, bidding Time pass,
All thoughts turned in on self.
To sail forever in some glass
Bottle upon his shelf...

But never see, on deck, proud through
The occasional threat
Of storm out there vying for you,
It hasn’t found you yet.
So you hail your tomorrows
Dry, and yet feeling damned,
On a ship of golden sorrows
Destined to never gain land.

Where the days linger, long and slow,
And still you sail on.
Where vanity’s procured, although
The will’s long since been drawn.
An eternity of nothing,
All that’s left to turn eyes toward.
Well I guess at least that’s something,
I finally found my reward!


Michael Anderson

5/28/2013


© Copyright 2013 Michael Anderson - All Rights Reserved
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
1 posted 2013-07-13 07:35 AM


Ahhh . . . Methinks you settle for . . .
quote:
An eternity of nothing,

when you could have happiness and finally peace of mind. I'm beginning to wonder if you really want that peace of mind. You seem to prefer to wallow in selfish delusions.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
2 posted 2013-07-13 07:38 AM


I love this line-
"While you learn anticipation
Is a curse you can’t console"
Your work is wonderful! Also, it is always very moving and sad. I have to read you as if you were contageous LOL!  The darkness is an easy guest to let in and a hard one to get to leave. I admire your style.

Lori


Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
3 posted 2013-07-13 09:49 AM


Me thinks it's not so much settling, Jer, as aiming towards.  Happiness and peace of mind having been fleeting notions in my life at best, why not just embrace the certainty of Misery... she's always been there for me.     Dark aspects aside, I do occasionally try to be creative in my writing.  This was just a poem of what I thought it must be like to be the Captain of a ship in a bottle, a concept I thought novel at the time for some reason.  I apologize if the dark pen overwrites any artistic merit.

Lori, I certainly hope I'm not contagious... what a curse that would be!  The darkness is hard to let leave, indeed.  Mine has been with me as long as I can remember, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.  Thank you for not judging my work on that facet alone.  

Michael

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2013-07-13 10:19 AM


Michael, you told Lori that you were glad she wasn't "judging my work on that facet alone." You were talking about the darkness. I've been reading you for some time now, and all I have read was dark despair over and over. I like your writing style, and have told you so many times. But after reading dark over and over it just sorta gets to me and I respond as I did today. I didn't miss the jibe about me in what you said to Lori. I guess to accept your pen without observing the dark takes a more intelligent person than I am when every line is completely and unabashedly dark.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
5 posted 2013-07-13 10:29 AM


Well Jer, it's a public forum and if you want to read yourself into a reply I gave to someone else I can't stop you.  With that selfish a vantage point though, I imagine it will do me no good to assure you I would demean nobody by replying to them just to stab at someone else.  I say it like it is to whom it needs to be said. Always have.  Always will.  Now I really need that coffee.  Good day to you.

Michael

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2013-07-13 11:10 AM


Eh . . . Must be my paranoia showing, Michael. Wouldn't be the first time.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

Angel4aKing
Senior Member
since 2006-09-27
Posts 1372
USA
7 posted 2013-07-13 05:32 PM


"An eternity of nothing,
All that’s left to turn eyes toward.
Well I guess at least that’s something,
I finally found my reward!"

Loved this part! It reminds me of a dream I had  once about love and fear .... something to do with the fear of love and drowning in depression I think ... been trying to decipher the dreams for years thank you for a lil piece of insight!

~~~kingsangel~~~

jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
8 posted 2013-07-13 09:09 PM


Much enjoyed the read, Michael, but I think more so I enjoyed the comments.  Sparks and excitement!  

Nothing untoward meant in the above, my friend.

It was fun to read.

walk easy, my friend(s)...

jimmy


Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666
California
9 posted 2013-07-14 10:24 AM


It's all good, Jer. Been there, done that.  

Angel, love and fear do seem to go hand in hand, that does sound like a troubling dream though.  Not sure I’m the best person to be gaining insight from, but I’m glad you enjoyed the poem.

Jimmy, thank you and, lol… no worries.  It’s a public forum and sometimes perception of a comment is nothing like the poster intended it.  Does make for some fine drama at times though as I’ve seen over the years here. Glad you enjoyed.     


Michael
  


Paul Wilson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Elite
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711
United States
10 posted 2013-07-16 05:11 PM


Michael...Enjoyed the poem and your perspective on it. Dark is dark and to me it releases the feelings that binds us to the soul. I really enjoy reading and writing dark dismal poetry, because it releases something in me that is called emotion and feelings. Your style fits you well my friend. Keep on writting the hurt and pain you go thru...Paul

~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~
Paul

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