And still I sit

 

And still I sit

 

 

Wood grain suspenders on beams of unattractive thought

grasp paper cups holding the morning’s coffee just outside of

smudged glass reflecting off of these prison walls

in the heart of the shopping district,

where everything is on sale

and yet nothing is to be sold

 

as shoppers take advantage of nap time…and still I sit

 

Clinging to every hope a mind can cling to,

shadowed by my beliefs that it doesn’t matter when

grays pull years out of youthful smiles wearing ties,

for no good reason and

wasted breaths fall from hapless dreams caving in on the summit

where asphalt spills and curb side deliveries melt

 

rolling down the window to nothing…and still I sit

 

Limestone pillars stand guard in fours,

cozying up to attached railings painted to match, but don’t

where empty tissue boxes wear gaping mouths of perforated edges,

yawning with all of the enthusiasm of a Japanese translator

at a Metallica concert trying to sing opera in verses…

collected but unseen or spoken of in black and white words

 

flickering and waiting a review…and still I sit

   

Poetry gathers in corners like food crumbs beneath the fridge,

hidden in the dark until the tile floor is replaced as

small piles of words are sifted through but not taken

for the sunlight changes everything

and this is not as cloudy a day as was forecasted,

though the gloom still exists

 

scribbling non-stop while leaving… and still I sit

Reviews

[Lydia Shutter]

"grays pull years out of youthful smiles wearing ties".......a brilliant line, Jack. Getting older in a youthful society is not easy. Dreams of youth seem deflated as the years move on. The images made me think of an older man working a parttime job in a supermarket.....retired from his "real" job. A bit of a melancholy sentimenet in this one, but delivered with splendid personification, metaphor and imagery. I hope you sit here writing for a long, long time. Lydi**

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Lydi. I truly do appreciate you visit today more than you will know.

[s y e]

Lovely style of writing as per usual.

Loved this one.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much my friend.

[prachi prangya agasti]

really hats off... as always love your writing.. nice portray of theme.... a great piece...

[Jack...]

Prachi, thank you so much.

[OTownPete]

Jack, you took me hither and yon while you just sat. Quite an interesting grouping of sights and sounds...especially the Japanese translater trying to explain "Enter Sandman". Your frien din words, Pete

[Jack...]

Thanks Pete, yeah, I'd like to hear him sing it. Sreep with one eye oplen, crutching your pilrow tight. (all in fun everyone)

[Cassie]

I agree with Dr Wood,, I couldnt say more. May you never lose that and may you always write and write until forever ends

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Sunshine. Your light always makes me smile.

[Cassie]

You are welcome my sweet friend

[Dr. Wood ?]

you are proving again and again just how good you really are jack......May you never lose that muse...APOLOGIES for the rhyme

[Jack...]

No problem Doc, I've heard about the contagious disease running rampant over there. Always from you words so kind are what my eyes will tend to find. D****t!!! It must be contagious through the internet too! :)

[Dr. Wood ?]

It gets them here it gets them there..that VIRUS gets them everywhere

[Kelly Scheppers]

"Poetry gathers in corners like food crumbs beneath the fridge..."

Your muse is one that many of us have come to rely upon here! You are a staple within households, like ketchup, like microsoft...and yet, you are "just jack"! And that makes you one of the finest poets on board here!

[Jack...]

Kelly, you humble me with your kind words today. I was not in the best frame of mind when I wrote this, feeling quite down in fact, but your kind words are the lift I need to bring this smile back into position. Thank you so very much.

[Kelly Scheppers]

That's why we have friends...to teach us to be kind to ourselves, to have patience, whenever we lose our way. You are most welcomed, Jack!

[MsJewel]

A very powerful and emotional write Jack. The repetition of ...and still I sit...gave me the feeling of restlessness, unhappiness..being unfulfilled. I have come to the conclusion that you can write about absolutely anything and turn it into something the reader can relate to...now that is poetry. Brilliant writing my friend.

:) Julie

[Jack...]

Thank you Julie. These are very kind words to me and coming from such a wonderful romantic poet as yourself, they are more than appreciated. Thank you again...so very much.

[icelandicblue]

This reminded me of the rock opera Tommy:

Limestone pillars stand guard in fours,
cozying up to attached railings painted to match, but don’t
where empty tissue boxes wear gaping mouths of perforated edges,
yawning with all of the enthusiasm of a Japanese translator
at a Metallica concert trying to sing opera in verses…
collected but unseen or spoken of in black and white words

Now say that three times fast. Always a pleasure.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Anne. See me, hear me, touch me, feel me.

[redflutterby]

There's some very deep insecurity showing through this one. You are one of the best poets I know...and don't you forget it. Stop being so hard on yourself...;-)

[Jack...]

Thanks my friend.