Not-So-Pretty Please

Things do not change; we change. - Thoreau

sometimes a tide ebbs

other times it flows

who keeps track

who dares to oppose

sometimes a tower eiffels

sometimes it rubs a finger up and down its lips and babels

other times it pisas

doing whatever it damned well pleases

as it leans over and sneezes

sweet liberation confected

lame faith erected

crowns of thorns resurrected

the song in my head keeps changing with my mood

like the players in a game of family feud

in a harmonicaed existence

everyday i make the savage trek down to the park

through a meanspirited city

wallowing in self-pity

expecting to find a way to forgive

searching for anything or anyone to be corroborative

i keep playing with fire

not expecting to get burned

so many things i've learned

my keep yet to be fully earned

my trial yet to be ultimately adjourned

my school-of-hard-knocks lessons still unlearned

with the space between my bench and the harbor as a pew

shared in a congregation of the homeless

empty booze bottles their offering cup

their mindless aroma of weed rolling and wafting through the air like spiritual incense

maybe the answer is blowing in the breeze

or hanging from the trees

perhaps if i get down on my knees

with holes in my dungarees

is it conceivable

believable

achievable

retrievable

i've paid all the fees

still unable to find the keys

could it be that all it takes is a solemn,

clasp-handed, 

not-so-pretty

please

Author's Note

"Open all your pores and bathe in all the tides of nature, in all her streams and oceans, at all seasons." - Thoreau

Reviews

[Ruth]

This seems like someone finds it hard to ask for help - someone who has seen and lived life, knows and understands that it isn't all "pretty" roads and skies but rather darkness in-between distorted lines and spaces and gritty beneath tired, worn feet, as worn and old souled as the world appears at times. There is wisdom in this poem, harsh reality along with an understanding and the Thoreau quote at the beginning of this piece rattled my brain for a while, so true actually when we reflect on it. Great writing Pete :)

[Pete]

thanks for sharing such astute thoughts. the story of my life - winning all the battles but losing the war. yes, i'm always amazed at how deep thoreau got - so close to the bone. he really wasn't kidding when he said, "I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life" ... :)

[barleygirl]

This packs all your usual artful trickery & bompin' wordplay, but especially that first verse . . . WOW! The "towers" idea is pure cranium cranking on steroids (((HUGS)))

[Pete]

lol - "cranium cranking on steroids". it's funny that you zeroed in on the tower thing - it came to me during composition and i toyed with it for quite a while unsure as to how to fine tune it to fit in. you possess a razor-sharp eye for details and rarely miss a thing (must be that technical writing background). thanks so much for the encouraging review ... :)

[The Iron Horseman]

Hmm, I hear Lou Reed in this. Nicely done.

[Pete]

thank you for venturing out and taking a walk on my wild side ... :)

[The Iron Horseman]

:) You are very welcome, my pleasure.