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Critical Analysis #1
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Alain DeLaCendres
Member
since 1999-07-02
Posts 119
Ohio

0 posted 1999-07-24 09:51 PM


*note: this is a tad long, forgive me. I like this one, but I think it could be better..Please rip this apart for me. Thank you.

[i]"Nostalgia[/i]

I ache
for the past
that I have left behind.
But it’s funny
because back then I was blind
to anything that didn’t support
the illusion that it would always last.
I long to touch the “certainty”
that past time provided,
but without all the weights
that were placed upon my heart.

I reach into my mind
and draw forth the sphere
that used to hold my heart,
But now it holds my fear.
The outer covering is harsh
and wiry, like wool.
I feel my weak fingers
firmly slide beneath the harsh outside
and strip it away.

What is left is what I wanted,
for it is soft and gentle,
like a solid ball of silk.
I allow my heart to come out of it’s hiding
and gingerly feel the warm sphere
And for one brief moment, I know no fear.

I lose myself to the nostalgia
and the silky warmth
within that glowing sphere
that once held my heart.
I can’t steer
myself through the light,
so I simply let it take me away
without a fight.

As I free fall
through these halls
I realize why I never saw
the things that were wrong
with paradise.
I never looked up to see the oppressive
and harsh wiry cover
because the warm glowing silk
was all I wanted to feel,
And once I looked deep enough into it,
I never wanted to quit.
The “certainty” it seemed to provide
was my only dream.

But now I can see it in all it’s
entirety.
Still I hold the warm sphere of solid silk
to my chest so my heart can feel
what’s left of the warmth.
I look into myself to find
that I’m laughing at myself,
And for good reason.
I can’t live in the past
if I want to live on.

So I take in the inner sphere
of warm, soft solid silk
on last time,
And I give it all my fears of love-
(because it caused them anyway).
My heart caresses the warmth one last time
and we are ready to leave it behind.

I hold the glowing ball in front of me
and find it ironic how unreluctantly
I can do this.
My fingers now slip from the silky surface
one by one,
Until finally the last one loses contact,
and the sphere
containing all my fear
Falls to the cold ground
and shatters.




------------------
Tout s'en va, tout passe, l'eau coule, et le couer oublie.

© Copyright 1999 Alain DeLaCendres - All Rights Reserved
JP
Senior Member
since 1999-05-25
Posts 1343
Loomis, CA
1 posted 1999-07-25 03:29 PM


I like it, content-wise that is. The form is a bit choppy and abrupt.

The only thing I would change (since you are seeking suggestions), is a rework of the form, combine some lines, drop a few extranious words... Let me try an example of the first lines so you will know what I am babbling about:

I ache for the past,
that I have left behind.
It’s funny, because back then,
I was blind to anything,
that did not support the illusion
that it would always last.

Just a suggestion. The message you convey is deeply touching and solid, I just had a difficult time getting to it...

Great work overall though!

ex animo
JP

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