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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2017-07-21 09:44 AM


To prepare for this voyage,
this journey into the wasteland of my sorrows,
my desires, my eternal soul
I seclude myself in a forest beyond.
My eternal soul.
Easy to say.
People say it all the time.
Eternal soul.
I'm not sure we even have a soul,
much less an eternal one.
As far as I know
no one has ever seen a soul.
Some might say they have felt their own souls.
Not sure about that either.
Could've been indigestion.
As I prepare for my odyssey  
I withdraw into the forest beyond,
concealed from sight,
listening to the soft screams of leaves falling.
What am I to do
here, out of my element?
Look for guidance,
direction and courage I suppose.
But instead of beseeching the forest beyond for these skills
I go down on one knee and weep.
While in my posture of sub-servitude
my tears dry upon my face,
turn into hard rock pebbles and fall from my cheeks
sounding like gentle raindrops
as they collide with reverence on the forest floor.
My hardened tears falling
soft as a whisper on the forest floor.
Is that an omen?
Does that mean I have been forgiven,
and if so,
forgiven for which act unbecoming to a civilized man?
I think not,
no, I believe I've passed some kind of test.
I stood and followed where my feet took me,
deep, much deeper, into the thickness
of my personal jungle.
As I tread,
mindful of the chattering around me,
understanding, even answering
the denizens who lived where I had come,
unannounced, to visit.
They spoke to me
not as friends,
no,
they bid me leave their home, the forest beyond.
I tarried,
unafraid, but mindful of changes within.
When, out of the blue a wind
frigid as Wyoming in January
undressed my mind,
leaving it naked, indefensible
but not unable to tell that
the world had taken on quite a different appearance.
Somber is the word, if indeed an appearance can be said to be somber.
Without conscious thought
my feet began to walk
as a deafening crack of thunder
cleaved the sky apart,
and biblical torrents of rain assaulted the forest beyond.
I stumbled blindly
through the violent flow of rain,
breathing in quick gasps because this was rain like none before.
Noah's perhaps.
If you can believe the bible.
Holding a hand over my mouth
to keep from breathing in rainwater,
drowning as I walked.
Suddenly I found myself inside a structure tar black inside.
There was no rain,
but there were smells
so rank,
so putrid,
I turned to flee back into the choking rain,
I'd rather drown standing than smell my own rotting flesh.
No way out.
Both entrances sealed off.
How could that be?
Someone giggled.
I felt a cold breath on my neck.
The giggling stopped.
An old crone's voice shrieked,
This ain't yer grade school picnic, Jerry, my boy.

©July 9, 2010 / Jerry Pat Bolton



~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~


© Copyright 2017 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
Lori Grosser Rhoden
Member Patricius
since 2009-10-10
Posts 10202
Fair to middlin' of nowhere
1 posted 2017-07-21 11:35 AM


I'm liking this, it is like one of your mean street walks only you are on metaphysical back roads. ~L
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2017-07-21 11:43 AM


You are absolutely correct, Lori. I so appreciate your interest in them.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Poet In Pink
Senior Member
Posts 1066
MI
3 posted 2017-07-27 08:05 PM


I knew part 2 would be just as wonderful as the first and you did not disappoint Jerry That ending gave me a chill as I read it and it left me wanting to know what is next!! Hope there is a next!!!  Alana
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2017-07-27 08:14 PM


Thank you, thank you very much,Alana. Ooooh!I so appreciate your your thoughts on my "Quintessence" poetry, and yes I do have some more. Thank you again. Post another one tomorrow.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Cerulean
Member
Posts 109

5 posted 2017-07-29 04:16 AM


The way you write this is like a lucid dream.

You have a way with words that questions all things with critical thinking. You really do.

Like Lori and Alana, I like this and can feel the raw emotions you portray so effectively.

I'll read on...

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