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Open Poetry #26
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Landmarks on the Passages of Life
| Open Poetry #26 |
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Landmarks on the Passages of Life |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows 
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I walk in dreams amidst debris on littered landscape and stare at points of sharp remembrance, barely skirting cracks in time, steaming crevasses filled with catalysts of unyielding truth, in a world where nothing mortal holds its form, where the sacred and profane have lost their contrast in the shadows of a time fragmented mind. Remembering, I dream about forgetting the pains and joys of other lives, commitments lost, debts unpaid, work undone, triumphs and passions abandoned in little scenes of dying; in strident theme and repetition, poignant tone and hasty rhyme, the broken melodies of life unsung ring out across the playing fields of self-determination, easy pieces squandered in the killing fields of time. Reality is the mind's softest convenience, life's greatest indulgence to the soul, a curtain hiding doors chipped in ego's bracing wall; to lift the edge and see beyond one lifetime sends me sliding on a line of pointed subtleties, unending comic tragedies distilled to mediocrity with minor variations carved in faceted reflections, curving far across the mirrored plains of thought. Sipping at reality, the soul waits watching seldom interfering in the sad sleepy searching, sweet forgetfulness, halting steps, the naive sweeping gestures of the mind awash in life, until images startling as deceptions dancing on a gem cast within reach a moment's possibility of unexpected truth: drifting fog and leather, the anger flash of cold blue eyes, across the hills and through the early mists of northern skies war pipes wailing like the Ba'ansidhe, weapons hurled with names of gods we lost to history, we died driving invaders to the sea; late night smoke, roasting meats and wine, through the streets and in the fleshpots of sultry free-boot towns set in other centuries with great expectations and little thought we wallowed in debauchery then fought for entertainment; lightning, freezing rains and flags with ravaged ends, on the great plains, the mountain passes, all the ancient seas, washed in blood of friends and strangers we raged, fell, beneath spavined standards raised for causes long forgotten; salty wood and canvas, steel ringing on steel, from the Hebrides to Hispaniola and on the pliant sands along the Gulf we walked free men as brothers, younger souls entranced by rhum and powdre, wooden ships and wind. Denying pain, leaving logic to the patient and the frightened, aging swiftly, living proudly, dying young we ranged through time wild sentient animals undaunted by our crimes, greed and lust, passions unleashed beneath the light of stars we used as maps, shedding lives like costumes, actors in a rush to know the play, until today, in these strange centuries of sweaty peace churning underneath a casual coverlet of constant war, weapons lost and rusting beyond the veil of time we live apart, like shriven buccaneers, anchors set in drifting webs, the tangled undergrowth of separate lives, sometimes sharing bits of memories surviving at the edge of touch, fortunate to live again and recognize each other as a friend. ©2003 by icebox |
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| © Copyright 2003 icebox - All Rights Reserved | |||
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
you tell quite an incredible story, many favorite lines, one awesome journey! |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
passing shadows ~ Quite a compliment from an aesome Lady. Thank you for reading this poem and for your kind comment. |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
I'm so glad that I opened this poem, icebox - I've read it twice already, and I expect I'll come back for another. Any poem that can garner more than a couple of reads from me is surely a resounding success. Very nicely done, sir...  |
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Patricia Member Elite
since 2003-04-06
Posts 2160Missouri |
Mr. Icebox, I think I shall chew on this one today and try to absorb the meat in smaller pieces. There are many exceptional lines. My friend, the words are flowing endlessly from you. As Martha says, "It's a good thing." Perhaps without her assisting in your projects, you are free to write? LOL  Patricia |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
icebox...Amazing! Thank you for sharing this. |
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icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
Nan ~ Thank you for reading my poem and for your generous comment. Patricia ~ *smile* Ahh...roasted, skewered poetry! I hope there was no indigestion. *laugh* Yes, some days, writing seems easy and others...well, I am sure all here know. Thank you for reading my poem and for taking time to comment. Martie ~ Does this help at all, my friend? Thank you for reading my poem and for your kind comment. |
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