navwin » Archives » Critical Analysis #1 » tonight I see the ghost of pain
Critical Analysis #1
Post A Reply Post New Topic tonight I see the ghost of pain Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
John Foulstone
Member
since 2000-01-01
Posts 100
Australia

0 posted 2000-01-09 08:18 AM


tonight I see the ghost of pain
that shambles round
beneath this stone facade

I show the world

the long hard chains he wore
the denim noose about his throat
softly denying head
the blood his heart
no longer cared to give
the bars that held him
one more day
from all his nineteen years

the spectre fades

one day I saw a boy who smiled
with eyes that danced
before this stone facade

I show the world

the notebook where he wrote
a cluster of red hearts in pairs
the names of girls
he might have loved
the many empty pages
are enough to make
another shroud
encompassing my failure
and my son

tonight I see the ghost of pain


© Copyright 2000 John Foulstone - All Rights Reserved
Hawk183
Member
since 1999-12-24
Posts 130

1 posted 2000-01-09 11:33 AM


John,

Very tragic...
The line about the "denim noose" is especially powerful for me.  The form is well done...and the feeling of loss is abundant, both for the subject and the writer.Nice work.

Hawk

warmhrt
Senior Member
since 1999-12-18
Posts 1563

2 posted 2000-01-09 06:54 PM


John,
This is truly heart-rendering, conveying the most tragic of events any parent could ever experience. The emotional feel of the piece seems to be that this is something always there, but hidden beneath the surface ... the "stone facade", and that it escapes to haunt the narrator with bittersweet memories and unfounded guilt.
An excellent, but oh, so very sad piece, John.

warmhrt

roxane
Senior Member
since 1999-09-02
Posts 505
us
3 posted 2000-01-09 08:59 PM


this is a wonderful piece, such imagery and emotions, though a terrible thing to experience, you have captured that feeling.
i especially loved the part about another shroud.  excellent work, john.

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Critical Analysis #1 » tonight I see the ghost of pain

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary