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Open Poetry #50
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The Clock
| Open Poetry #50 |
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The Clock |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California 
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The Clock The clock, it has two faces. That’s good, cause so do I. A man who's run two races; Against death—against sigh. Woeful dreams of ambition Outdistanced long ago; Call it price of tuition, Today I just walk slow. Finish line in the distance, Outcome already clear. I offer no resistance, Mind set to persevere. Such a long time wading through Squabbling society, For the day I am made new, And the soul is set free. A whisper from the shadow— A tethered hand of sleight That blends with the afterglow, Of day slipping to night. ‘Used to seek him openly, To shakes of the head, “no!” These days, he walks beside me Most everywhere I go. This desert soil, a garden To one with a soul parched. I never begged a pardon Anywhere else I’ve marched. But here, I am trespassing. Here, reverence is due. The vultures are amassing, I’m guessing that’s my cue. Michael Anderson 6/12/2020 [This message has been edited by Michael (06-12-2020 10:35 PM).] |
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jwesley Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563Spring, Texas |
Enjoyed this my friend - especially liked and wish I had thought of ... "The vultures are amassing, I’m guessing that’s my cue." Had a sad ring, yet, chuckle and certain beauty in the verbiage. j. |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Thank you James, I think the difference in tone my be a sliding from "resigned to" towards "accepting" of that which awaits us all. I definitely wanted it to be lighter reading. |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
When I see someone else talking about setting the soul free, my mind automatically jumps to religion and death. When I write about it myself, it is almost never what I mean. What is interesting is that you've made me think that since I don't always mean it as religion and death that I should consider that others are just as inclined to use the subject in a different way. I've always known that I shouldn't limit my thinking to the "norms", but this caught me in a moment of doing just that. It may be referring to exactly what I saw, but it still caused me to remember to consider alternatives. There is benefit to slowing down in life. There is also inspiration in being able to have different parts coexist without so much battle for one to be in front. I realize this is not always a consistent peace. I'm curious about the vultures because I'm not making a connection on what they represent for you here. It's probably my morning brain fog keeping me from seeing something obvious.
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
heh, Jenn, I usually wrap my poems in vagueness as much as possible. Not just so they may be more open to interpretation but just a bit of self modesty I guess. many parts are double entendres, which we discussed, and can be read more than one way and correct in whichever light they are seen. Your question on the releasing of the soul would probably fit there. There are many ways to read that but the following line about being "made new" I put in to give it more of a religious overtone. The vultures most people will just see as feathered pickers of the bones of the dead. In this case, it's more a reference to my family who all seem to have a sick materialist fetish to claim as much of a passing family member's belongings as they can, almost like it's a contest. One that makes me utterly sick. We were planning a family trip to go see my mother who has stage 4 cancer when I wrote this. The poem really wasn't finished and I left it off with that line, thinking I would come back, edit the poem and give it a real ending. I didn't end up doing that...just posted it is and left the ending as it was. It seemed to fit. When I die, I am sure the vultures will feed. They might mourn a day or two later...but first, they WILL feed! Michael |
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Paul Wilson
since 2002-07-07
Posts 4711United States |
Michael...This reads like every stanza is a different poem, showing the different decisions we go thru in our lives. The first stanza leaves me confused as to it's meaning After reading your post to Temptress the rest of the poem makes perfect since to me. By the way enjoyed very much ~~To share my poems with you is to share my heart with you~~ |
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Michael
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-13
Posts 7666California |
Paul, In the first stanza, I am speaking of two races I've ran...against Death, and against Sigh. At a very young age I learned of death. By the time i was 13 i lost three of my closest friends, not long after that my father and grandmother; the only two family members I had any type of bond with. I began to think it was a curse of some sort...it aided me in what was ultimately to become my withdrawal from society. I charged death head on for many years, thinking I deserved to be next? To save others i dared not openly care for? To keep him from having so much power over me? I do not know all the reasons I suppose...but those were there in my very young, but deep seeing mind. The race against Sigh was the fact that at one point in my life I was told I could accomplish anything. What I was never told was the cost. The longer I lived, the more I found I could accomplish anything...anything except feeling the natural feelings of love and joy I saw in everyone else around me. That being the case, every accomplishment felt like a wasted effort. I became the guy who intentionally would lose a contest just to see the joy in the victor's eyes I knew by all accounts I would not have should I win. I gave in...and the loss in the race against Sigh left me with only Death whom I charged head on...only to have him refuse me too. Everywhere I go, I still seem to go hand in hand with Death...only now I walk and wait patiently. Anyhow, the two stanza I left out may have clarified things better. Maybe I will try to finish them at a later date. It's obvious now I should at least make the attempt. Thank you. Michael [This message has been edited by Michael (06-20-2020 07:26 AM).] |
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