Who Is This Man

Who Is This Man

A Poem by Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)
"

facing myself

"

looking at him

was immediately unsettling

his eyes were pleading

for me to turn away,

but i couldn't

i've seen him---

his face

many times before

but never like this...

looking this long

somehow--- was killing him

the strength i've seen in him

countless times before

was fading

his warrior stance... buckling

flesh began to replace armor

oblivious perfection gave birth to flaws

those eyes, continued to beg me

to find another direction---

i could not

as i looked into him,

or he into me...

his struggle was revealing itself

slowly explaining

why this perspective is so scary---

guiding me down a long twisted road

we pass many broken things

light and heat become less and less present

he demands i look away---

i don't

i continue to walk the path

stumbling over the clutter as i do

just as i think i've arrived

to the point of total blackness

the light remains ghostly faint---

amid the rubble, close to the ground...

something moves

he tells me to look away,

i tell him... i can't

pushing my way through the chaos

reaching out, i find---

a boy... all alone

and for some reason frantically building

he was covered in scars

looking at them---

those scars... made me weep for him

flashes of forgotten pain

crash down on me...

shock slams my eyes shut

but keep them closed--- i can't do

i open them to find the boy

still building

so i ask the obvious...

what are you building?

the boy replies, you

i say, you can't be

he says to me...

open your eyes

(thick denials shatter)

and his scars... become my scars

the clutter he is so desperately building with

is what i am---

a mess... pieced together

by a damaged little boy

with an aversion to light and heat

but a knack for surviving---

i look to my guide

and he looks to me,

i sift through the clutter

and begin replacing his armor

because now i can see...

that it was i

who built him

 

 

© 2013 Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)


Author's Note

Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)
A very emotional write for me... sorry if it is choatic. This is my second time reading this(as i posted it), and my first time editing it. I hope it translates well to all who read it. Thank you... your thoughts are welcomed.

My Review

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Reviews

This is incredible, you have a wonderful way with words, my friend, that I envy and greatly admire. This poem conveys great strength, and power, A reflection of self, is a hard thing to grasp more often then not, and you've written such a great piece, that is filled with amazing ideas, this is one of the best I've read on this site! great write!

Posted 9 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

9 Years Ago

I can't express my gratitude for your amazing thoughts on this piece. I don't visit it very much, so.. read more
Bowers

9 Years Ago

you are very welcome!
This is fantastic poetry. I bow to your talent, my friend. Such a strong, poignant poem. Tragic and yet that small boy built a very smart man who has survival in his blood.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Wow, I have no words for your thoughts on this piece. I thank you for such a grand gesture, my pen h.. read more
Joyce S. Greene

10 Years Ago

Not a gesture at all! I meant every syllable of my comment. I felt your poem in my bones. Do you.. read more
Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

My name is, Travis. I don't know what to say that it affected you so deeply, its a piece I don't vis.. read more
The path you were on was your own and the man was the man in the mirror when you finally moved past him you found the little boy alone trying desperately to be remembered and to allow yourself to become whole. That is what I grasp from this piece. I had a dream once and when I awoke I knew something in me had joined. I had met the child that was once me before the scars of rape marred my life forever...
Sometime if you like I will reveal that story to you.

Stellar piece here.. I know this was very emotional for you to write but I want you to know it was emotional for me to read as well. xo shallimarRose

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

You are spot on... this was very difficult to write. If you have any pieces regarding your story, i .. read more
Damn!!! This is brilliant. It's like peeking into someone's diary when you know you shouldn't have but what you read is so intense and heart-wrenching you simply can't look away. It's blunt, brutally honest and painful to read, almost to the point of making the reader uncomfortable. Personally I love the chaotic manner of writing, makes the work feel more raw, honest. It starts off sad but gives a glimmer of hope at the end 'i sift through the clutter
and begin replacing his armor', takes a bit of the edge off (that's a compliment......but what I have to commend most is your guts in writing and publishing something that's so personal and obviously means so much to you. A lot of poets post stuff that's just beneath the surface but this....it's core stuff.....keep writing dude. #So your number one fan!

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Wow! You've left me blown away and completely humbled. I appreciate your sincere honesty and grand g.. read more
Cleide Tatyana Almeida

10 Years Ago

most welcome
This is simply fantastic. I felt you walking through a war zone to find the child who built the man and the man who discovered himself through the pain endured by the child. It is heartbreaking and yet inspiring for it takes great strength to go there and to speak and acknowledge all the broken pieces of yourself.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Thank you for such an insightfully spot on review. Your thoughts always give me a great appreciation.. read more
Self-reflection is gold to a poetic miner digging out lines like tunnels into the earth of inner being. You my good sir are a skillful miner and have dug up a mother-load of emotion and description to panhandlers of the literary world. Excellently penned with raw fingers and polished vision. Well done.

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Thank you for such a cerebral review, that was masterfully metaphorical. Thanks for the stimulation .. read more
Astro

10 Years Ago

You're welcome PH, after reading yours I'm sure I'll be drawn to more of it. Thanks for sharing and .. read more
Wow an intensely emotional read, you've bared your entire soul here...how easily we fall, and how much effort it takes to put us back together again. Warrior strength is something that thrives within us, with a bit of coaxing it's possible.

by a damaged little boy
with an aversion to light and heat
but a knack for surviving---
i look to my guide

Sitting through the clutter and taking responsibility is much of the battle...very affecting read my friend!

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Thank you for a touching review. i don't read this often, so i don't know if i gave enough truth. Wi.. read more
"open your eyes

(thick denials shatter)

and his scars... become my scars

the clutter he is so desperately building with

is what i am---

a mess... pieced together


by a damaged little boy

with an aversion to light and heat

but a knack for surviving---"
An awesome write . A writer at his peak of writing...Splendid...:)

Posted 10 Years Ago


Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

Thank you, dear friend... you always humble me with your great thoughts on my work.
Sami Khalil

10 Years Ago

You are welcome...Any time...:)
I like it :) I think you did a good job digging deep to pull out some emotion. That's what poetry is supposed to be, right?

Posted 10 Years Ago


Yellow Butterfly

10 Years Ago

I think so... :)
Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

It is an avenue poetry extends itself down. I thank you for noticing that there was much digging don.. read more
sifting through the clutter to rebuild the warrior. that is such a powerful image. Wonderful write.

Posted 10 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

ANTO

10 Years Ago

"sifting through the clutter to rebuild the warrior" - a fine review of a fine piece TL
Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

10 Years Ago

TL... I completely concur with my good friend Anto. My apologies for not thanking you sooner for you.. read more

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1284 Views
28 Reviews
Rating
Shelved in 4 Libraries
Added on July 12, 2013
Last Updated on July 12, 2013
Tags: pain, denial, fear, truth

Author

Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)
Travis Gibson (poetic heroics)

Oblivion's edge, OH



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Been here for some time... My work is my life. Read and I hope you enjoy. I will return the sentiment. more..

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