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Open Poetry #34
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A Grave Life
| Open Poetry #34 |
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A Grave Life |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533
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Seems a brief and secret dreamed Bel Canto, huge medallions of stained glass mise en scene, a warbling boy hid in the tribe of men detaining the cherished sweep, in needed hope, of a father fastened necktie, sole flicker of light from a storm concocted in clouds whose weekdays rained in curtains chasing the lad back into the shadows....But Sundays Oh Sundays, before Iron City beers were bottle rockets cracking from cardboard cases on the back porch and rage left dark fear and tangled lather in its slipstream Though the lambskin never met the hide the slapping tie to chin symbolized a token, the only time those hairy hands weren’t blenched and the aftershave didn’t prompt the stifled whimper of a snared hare. Enough was taken from it to bound up the curling stairwell along the bell chord, past the flaking paint two steps at a time to the choir loft There above the organ and far away from the altar or parishioners the boy piped amid the lyceum baritones and basses, the duck pin players, and all ambushed the priest, far away below with echoes of “Kyrie Eleison!” And since that seem’d dream, the umbraged Strum und Drang, somnambulate shroud in mimicry, where tweaked ties passed for love but were nooses for even softer mortals Was there daylight there, since that vibed illusion, until this time of melancholic murk? Has now the shadowed boy the dwindled choice of witnessing this stranger’s agonal breath, its mock aria a vicarial voice and the Auto-da-fé the interloper seems to crave? |
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| © Copyright 2005 Richard S. Wells jr. - All Rights Reserved | |||
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EvocativeVerse2 Senior Member
since 2003-09-10
Posts 1279 |
OMG! What a gift to read this morning RSWells. I could see the images you weaved. This is quite the piece. It conjours to mind stained glass and whispered laughter. The grave procession to the pulpit to received the communion. I have not been in a church in 30 years...but in a flash I could see it all again. Bravo sir. |
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Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
An incredible Sunday morning read Richard. This line stuck with me. -------------------------------------- where tweaked ties passed for love but were nooses for even softer mortals Well done sir.  |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
Thank you EvocativeVerse2 and Gentle Spirit. It occurs to me that it might increase appreciation and further readership to include a glossary of terms; Bel Canto=beautiful song (or singing) mise en scene=Stage or setting (with actors) Strum und Drang=German, literally "storm and stress but too A literary movement of the latter half of the 18th century including impetuosity of manner, exaltation of individual sensibility and intuitive perception, opposition to established forms, of society and thought and extreme nationalism. agonal breath=agony, particularly a death rattle Auto-da-fé=(act of faith) A day set apart by the Inquisition for the examination of “heretics.” Those not acquitted were burnt. The reason why inquisitors burnt their victims was, because they are forbidden to “shed blood”; an axiom of the Roman Catholic Church being, “Eccle’sia non novit san’guinem” (the church is untainted with blood). I return to add that "blenched" means blanched but too, and in this case "shrink, flinch, quaill" vicarial=substitute and the title suggested by a few words from a line in Ted Hughes' final book, "Birthday Letters," the poem "Caryatids (2)" Poets against the war is redundant [This message has been edited by RSWells (01-23-2005 10:21 AM).] |
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RSWells Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533 |
One more thing I need add today; GO STEELERS! Time for some smash face football baby, you're in OUR HOUSE! Poets against the war is redundant |
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Mysteria 
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
Just a small  of understanding, and although I don't dig football, I know you love those Steelers, so "GO STEELERS, GO!Very heartfelt and poignant write Richard. Carpe' Diem |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Thank you for those clarifications, Richard. Not being raised Catholic, or ever really listening to the one Mass I attended, I wasn't familiar with Kyrie eleison, which I discovered means Lord have mercy! So many images in this wonderfully complex write; some that made me cringe, and want to offer a compassionate hug, others that made me want to shout above the sounding bells. And I leapt those steps with you, two at a time. |
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Seymour Tabin Member Empyrean
since 1999-07-07
Posts 31720Tamarac Fla |
RSWells Although I got most of the symboligy some walked the edge of the abyss where I sweeped into the bin of time. Excellent write. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
And since that seem’d dream, the umbraged Strum und Drang, somnambulate shroud in mimicry, where tweaked ties passed for love but were nooses for even softer mortals Was there daylight there, since that vibed illusion, until this time of melancholic murk? ~*~ Hope the Steelers win... It seems the young boy has, too.  |
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