Within

The concept of Freudian Iceberg inspired me to compose this poem.

Wildebeests following each other,

To the river - thirst beckons.

Snout afloat on the surface,

In the river - hunger beckons.

Deer following each other,

To the grazing lands - hunger beckons.

The mighty lioness stays put,

Behind the grasses - hunger beckons.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Parched tongues sail over,

Placid,yet darker waters.

Soothing touch of grass under feet,

Hunger pangs set for abortion.

Inviscid flow of water,

Quenches thirsts.

Edible mass inflow,

Ends hunger.

The wildebeest grunt,squeal;

Joy,pleasure and satisfaction.

The deer get assurance,

For they have survived another day.

The herd brimming with joy,

Their brains take a nap.

The deer prances out to her pack,

To inform them of the reserves.

The alpha-male,

Proud of his herd.

The mother deer with tears of joy,

Looking at her daughter lead the course of survival.

He decides to have a drink himself,

Also to enjoy company of his son.

She runs towards her daughter,

To lick her wounds.

The puddle,unwelcoming,

Alas,he slips into the river.

Tall grass,blocking,

Her sight of her beloved daughter.

The son searches frantically,

Only to look at his corrugated face on the surface.

Is this an epiphany?

Should he seek resolve to replace his father as the alpha-male?

The mother searches frantically,

Only to look at the tall stretches of grass.

Is this an epiphany?

Should she forego the company of her girl?

Within.

Within.

Within.

Within.

A hundred thoughts,

A thousand emotions.

Unite the mother and the son,

Albeit from a different species.

The sun overhead,

The hot breeze.

The river ahead,

The grass in the front.

Through the pores in its snout,

The smell of flesh - hunger beckons.

After calculating myriad complexities,

The smell of flesh - hunger beckons.

The herd,

Taken aback.

Deer letting out,

Loud cries.

A beautiful crimson,

A portent of evil.

The son finds his father,

In five pieces.

A charming golden-yellow,

Stained with blood and tears.

The daughter finds her mother,

Far from her place,farther from living.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Within.

The son cannot mourn his father's death,

Nor avenge his death.

Like shadows at dusk,

The desire to live grows,dominates.

Her vision blurred with tears,

Probably her final tears.

Pain of separation,

Not of death.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Within.

He runs for his life,

Along with his herd,his new family.

The memory of his father,

Within.

The vindictiveness,

Within.

She runs towards her herd,

To avoid death.

Vivid images of the matricide,

Within.

The agony,the heartache,

Within.

A million,

Within.

A little,

On the surface.

The deer and the wildebeests,

Completely oblivious to the million,

Within.

The son and the daughter,

Exposing a little,

On the surface.

She sprints away from the savannah - life beckons.

He gallops away from the river - life beckons.

Death,

Within.

Life,

On the surface.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Within.

Author's Note

Experimental work. Your feedback is the best thing that could happen to me.

Reviews

[Lily]

Wow this is really awesome. It really enforces the chaotic nature of life- and death. Find beauty where you may, but push come to shove we are all actively competing for survival, it is our first instinct, and ultimately all else comes 2nd. Especially of course for animals such as a wildebeast or a deer. An emotional poem and I also love how you contrast the inner turmoil with the blank continuity that is seen from the outside. My favourite aspect is probably the different uses of the word 'beckons'.