One Of The Simple Joys In Life

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icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

0 posted 2005-12-16 10:58 PM

Sometimes
even now I feel you reach for me,
you know,
in the night the way you used to come to me
in dreams,
as if still you have the right;
wander on blithe spirit
wander on,
now that I am used to life again
I am happy that you’re gone.

I recall the memory of your face,
the worn facade
too many years left to weather in storms of neglect,
a mottled plain of flesh
indulged beyond belief,
lined in silver gray and black,
broken by liner painted blocks
cracked and webbed,
no hint of light staring back
from empty eyes,
the vacant dull abyss
intent on sucking in all life and energy
giving nothing up from the windows of your dissipated soul.

When I burned your books
I felt a surge of joy I’ve seldom known
with any other light,
or mix of chemistry,
blood enhanced epiphany
or simple revelation;
I know
I know
it is supposed to be a crime
for a learned man;
I know I could have given them away
to children’s libraries,
or to the illiterate and poor
to burn for heat,
or foisted them upon the wandering
literati who have lost their grip
on how to be pretentious,
or shipped them off on cruise ships
to be sacrificed in signal fires
gathering the rich to silver trays
of fresh chilled umbrella drinks,
the starving pampered spoiled souls
littering the naked sands along the new Gold Coast
of dear Old Mexico.

So like you,
those books,
there was little they could say,
those dusty bindings stuffed with empty thoughts,
sybaritic sultry visions
symbiotic masturbation for the mind,
and so I watched them burn,
tried to toss them in the flames
so they landed leaves akimbo
like memories of you collapsed,
legs splayed upon the pillows,
only the books were dripping fire
melted from ideas already dead
not from desire’s wasted dregs.

©2005 by icebox

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

1 posted 2005-12-16 11:13 PM

"literati who have lost their grip
on how to be pretentious,"

I would have been very happy to have them.

But not for me to decide the partings of vikings...

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

2 posted 2005-12-16 11:13 PM

icey . . .

Damn, sir . . . not only is THIS written so amazingly perfect but the only thing that comes to mind is Dylan's "Idiot Wind" . . .

That spittle flying from his mouth in a sneer even though his heart is wrenched,
he rips the words through the air,
as you just spat them on this very screen.

"I can't even touch the books you read."

That line always haunted me.

I am sorry you have to write this, but glad that you CAN.

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

3 posted 2005-12-16 11:34 PM

icebox...I'm happy to see that you've found your missing muse. Good tough poem...from feelings deep. Hugging you because of the feelings released and those you held for so long.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

4 posted 2005-12-16 11:39 PM

talk about a catharsis
man, you invented a new way
to expunge

love this:
"sybaritic sultry visions
symbiotic masturbation for the mind"

Aenimal
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-11-18

Posts 7350
the ass-end of space

5 posted 2005-12-17 01:37 AM

only the books were dripping fire
melted from ideas already dead
not from desire’s wasted dregs

absolute.killer.lines

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-11-07

Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

6 posted 2005-12-17 02:15 AM

My tears are for both of you, the waste of life, the waste of books, the misery and the heart-ache. Stunning poem. Sorry you (and she) had to go through all you did, described and not.

Blessings
- Owl

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

7 posted 2005-12-17 03:11 AM

"symbiotic masturbation for the mind" grabbed me...quite effective.

Nothing left to say...there is only the "haunting." What an outpouring, Mr. C. Wish I could burn a few books myself but that would not rid me of any ghost, I'm afraid.

.....jo

littlewing
Member Rara Avis

since 2003-03-02

Posts 9655
New York

8 posted 2005-12-18 06:28 PM

bumping this . . .

[This message has been edited by littlewing (12-19-2005 10:08 AM).]

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