Ghost’s Among The Walking Wounded

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icebox
Member Elite

since 2003-05-03

Posts 4383
in the shadows

0 posted 2005-07-30 12:04 PM

Once,
it seems like an eternity ago,
I knew a princess.

Daughter of a tyrant of his own domain;
she had escaped the drape of purple sash,
the constant rape of daddy’s twisted mind.

Through her years
of hiding in any wretched lowland country
that would have her,
without ripping too much from her pride,
she healed within her costumes,
and grew to be a woman free
by hiding secrets
in the folds,
her cloak of pretense and abuse,
personas woven from metallic threads
gathered in her past by lying
when directly asked,
by turning scars away from prying eyes
by using guile,
sex or crime to shield her
from the casually curious thoughts
that tourists accidently caught.

I recognized it
as a reflex art derived from years surviving
by hiding inside distractions,
within the skill in simple slight of mind.

Perhaps we shared
what could pass as superficial similarities
in that very special universe of being
all alone in any standing crowd.

I never knew why
she drew me from my shroud,
since in truth I’d not allowed myself the luxury
of being noticed as alive.

Perhaps it was some sense of camaraderie,
the similarities of fugitives living
in the shadows of other people’s lives.

I didn’t know then
and won’t ever know now.

Six years of braided time
we spent living
in the simple bordered frames,
in the stills directors name,
when their works are on display,
in the private moments in between
quiet constant days of hiding in plain sight,
when only make believe
could steal the edge from pain,
six years of promised hopes and dreams
of making all things right
within the staged and focused light
where nothing’s what it seems,
until finally
in one last pretense
safe from all the gnawing fears,
the late night tears,
the theater of bitter lonely years
of terror and control....

...that one night,
in a single moment,
perhaps she’d been confronted
by the truth of all she feared,
I blinked and she had disappeared.

©2005 by icebox

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

1 posted 2005-07-30 12:48 PM

icebox

"that one night,
in a single moment,
perhaps she’d been confronted
by the truth of all she feared,
I blinked and she had disappeared."

It would seem that she is still with you...in the soul of your poetry.

JamesMichael
Member Empyrean

since 1999-11-16

Posts 33336
Kapolei, Hawaii, USA

2 posted 2005-07-30 01:03 AM

Nice...James

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

3 posted 2005-07-30 01:30 AM

I have to tell you that a person with this type of history will not get too close to people that is for sure, and they would rather run than become attached. I feel for her, for you, and for anyone whose past keeps them from having a present and future.
Although sad in a way, this was very well done, and all to familiar to me.

Dark Angel
Member Patricius

since 1999-08-04

Posts 10095

4 posted 2005-07-30 04:47 PM

Always a magnificent write from you icebox, i'm never disappointed.

it's a

Mxx

Ceinwyn
Member Elite

since 2000-07-09

Posts 2175
VA

5 posted 2005-07-30 05:01 PM

that face says so much, this was just beyond enjoyed

it reminds me of certain things..thanks for sharing

If at first you don't succeed destroy all the evidence that you tried.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean

since 2000-02-02

Posts 27738

6 posted 2005-07-30 05:02 PM

You render such an astute observation of one human's nature in this, it's actually a bit disconcerting.

Should you happen to have some notes on me, feel free to clue me in. (And it's okay, I can take a punch.

)

I love that this was done sans judgement, Mr. C.

But then, there's not too much (if anything) you've posted that I don't love.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

7 posted 2005-07-30 05:08 PM

Between the lines
of Martie
and serenity....

I do think
you've covered
everything...

and more.

Thank you, Sir.

MGROVES

Member Elite

since 2004-02-01

Posts 3802
california

8 posted 2005-07-30 11:56 PM

always enjoy your wise words
thanks marcia

My spirit will rise
above the sea~
There will be no drowning
of my soul or me~

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

9 posted 2005-07-31 12:36 PM

'Perhaps we shared
what could pass as superficial similarities
in that very special universe of being
all alone in any standing crowd.'

Damn, but you have the most incredible way of punching holes in life's facades.
...and if everyone who touches you deeply should become a poem, a piece of living art? well, I'd like a copy of that collection, sir

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis

since 2001-12-29

Posts 7115
South Africa

10 posted 2005-07-31 02:47 AM

icebox - a penetrating look that reveals much and could pertain in some degree or other to us all. Yes, I can well understand ... "quiet constant days of hiding in plain sight". Thanks for another read of substance.

iliana
Member Patricius

since 2003-12-05

Posts 13434
USA

11 posted 2005-07-31 08:17 PM

Haunting, to say the very least....and so sad.

....jo

Susan Caldwell
Member Rara Avis

since 2002-12-27

Posts 8348
Florida

12 posted 2005-08-01 01:18 PM

"in that very special universe of being
all alone in any standing crowd"

speechless.

Stunning portrayal of life's misfortunes and the price we pay.

This is why I love you and your writing so much. You do it with such honesty and class.

"too bad ignorance isn't painful"
~Unknown~

Ratleader

Member Rara Avis

since 2003-01-23

Posts 7026
Visiting Earth on a Guest Pass

13 posted 2005-08-07 11:16 AM

Reading this, I can understand how that one would stick with you a while....a lifewhile.

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______________Ratleader______________

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