Parachutes

Parachutes billowing,
floating
above the abyss
though we all once knew.
Parachutes colliding,
landing
upon the barren scape
that man once had.

They came by the millions
     drifting from heaven.
Their reason for being...
      a mystery to all.

Parachutes flaunting,
opening
to reveal themselves  
so that man might learn.
Parachutes lifeless,
wafting
through cloud speckled skies
when man was glad.

They came by the thousands
     dropping from heaven.
Their reason for being
     could not be explained.

Parachutes lingering,
meandering
toward the  spacklespace
of the damaged sphere...
Parachutes multicolored,
sized and shaped
caught in the crosswinds
and turbulence of man.

 

They came by the hundreds

crashing from heaven.
Their reason for being

was not understood.

Parachutes traveling,
transporting
the essence of life
for all to perceive.
Parachutes tangled,
snared and collapsed
by pettiness and greed
of those who wanted more.

They came by the dozens,

groping from heaven.
Their reason for being
     was a little too late.

Parachutes hanging,
lifeless
not realizing their fate
but expecting the best.
Parachutes sputtering,
idling over the masses..
too blind to see...
too ignorant to know...

They came by the millions
     but now there are none.
their reason for being
     will never be known-

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

written: February 12, 1972 (Age 22)
revised: May 4, 2010

Reviews

[Cherrie Palmer]

too blind to see...
too ignorant to know...(loved that line)

[Ladysue]

you have a very lyrical feel to your poem...this was very visual...sounds like the mystery of life to me..very well done...

[Vanessa Rico]

There is an air of mystery about this that just keeps me guessing and wondering. I have told you that your flair for details floors me and you have done it again...so stunning!

[Lily Mae]

I see souls.,coming and going...ebb and flow.. great write Allen..x

[Sunni Davis]

I love the images the come with your words. For some reason it fills me with such a peaceful feeling and makes me smile, which is just what I needed after my day. Thank you, Allen

[Mark]

Parachutes...What might he be symbolizing with parachutes?
Light, fragile, a safeguard against a sudden unpleasant end...
Warnings? Angels?
They came by the millions, and we could not comprehend them;
They came by the thousands, and hundreds and dozens, and we remain first oblivious, then stiffbacked, but ever belligerantly ignorant;
Then, their warning unheeded and the Earth's fate sealed, they just stopped coming...
And now we are asking, "Why?", and pleading, "Come back!"

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

The picture was gorgeous! Watching one parachutes is beautiful in itself. Your imagery brought this poem to life. Excellent read!

[emmajoy]

Love the expanse of this poem, the journeying mystery of what's happening. Probably each reader has his or her own interpreation, thinks the words infer something specific - or not. Yes, there's an out of world feel about it but parachutes are made by man hands, by machinery - do they exist as warnings, are they forerunners of Man's destiny!? There's music in this, ' Parachutes lingering, meandering ~ toward the spacklespace ~ of the damaged sphere... '

The repeated though varying numbers bring a 'shall we, shan't we' kind of warning, then, disappear as if there's no point of appearing any more, tis too late ..

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Wow! I can't imagine what inspired this write but I am definitely curious. Very intriguing.