I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

4 December 2016

Obliteration

He thinks to wipe his face away,
making pain a mask. Not play
but anguish prompts this frantic task.
Obliteration? He would ask
not to hide, rather reveal
the ugliness he cannot heal,
imposing inner truth upon
the human face he wishes gone –
exposing self as mask of pain
over, over, and over again.


Written for Flash 55 PLUS (Dec. 3, 2016) at 'imaginary garden with real toads' – the 'PLUS' being a response to this video:



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16 comments:

  1. Isadora Gruye4 December 2016 at 10:11

    I like how this poem relates to the character in the clip. It feels like it resonated with you, and this poem is a sturdy result. Well done and viva la.

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  2. Magaly Guerrero4 December 2016 at 13:58

    Delicious rhythm. I love the way in which it dances with the emotions brewed by the clip.

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  3. Susan4 December 2016 at 14:35

    Insightful! Let it show!

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  4. brudberg4 December 2016 at 18:05

    This captures the pain so much, the vainless effort to cover up, just making it worse. A vicious circle of denial.

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  5. Sanaa Rizvi4 December 2016 at 19:18

    You have given such a powerful voice to the man in the clip!! Especially in awe of "He would ask not to hide, rather reveal the ugliness he cannot heal, imposing inner truth upon the human face he wishes gone" Beautifully rendered.


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  6. kaykuala4 December 2016 at 20:54

    the ugliness he cannot heal,
    imposing inner truth upon
    the human face he wishes gone

    Perhaps there are elements who just can't take it anymore. There could be shameful episodes to face or committed by them that the world came to know. Thoughtful take Rosemary!

    Hank

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  7. Kerry O'Connor4 December 2016 at 21:25

    imposing inner truth upon
    the human face he wishes gone..

    What an excellent summation of the performance.

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  8. hedgewitch4 December 2016 at 23:34

    An excellent and feeling interpretation of the insanity in the clip. All its angst, and all its futility.

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  9. Sherry Blue Sky5 December 2016 at 06:15

    "Exposing self as mask of pain"..........this is such a profound poem, Rosemary. Could apply to certain despots in our current reality, who have no awareness of self.

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    Replies
    1. Rosemary Nissen-Wade5 December 2016 at 07:56

      Interesting way of looking at it, Sherry! Not what I was thinking of – but I suppose that, for all of us, our current realities can be so huge that they become the filter through which we view everything.

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  10. Anonymous5 December 2016 at 09:44

    Excellent capture of life's challenge

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  11. purplepeninportland.com5 December 2016 at 15:57

    "the human face he wishes gone.' - That line is the core of this amazing poem.

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  12. colleen6 December 2016 at 00:05

    I do love rhyming when it works. It's written all over our face.

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  13. annell46 December 2016 at 01:06

    Probably pain is often the task.

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  14. Rommy6 December 2016 at 03:00

    The rhythm is amazing in this and that last line and it's use of repetition feels perfect to drive home the trapped feeling in the video.

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  15. Sreeja6 December 2016 at 15:16

    oh...this absolutely speaks for that performance!

    ReplyDelete

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