A Staged Event

when private is exposed to public...is this a bad thing??

When the wild and the spotless

Converge on life’s bright stage,

The performance is the sacrifice,

The illumination and the footlights.

 

Any juxtaposition of love and hate

Turns klieg lights on the suffering,

Regales the one who undermines

The anticipation of the ones above.

 

As one looks askance at the metaphor

Detailing bewilderment vs. light,

One would ask for it to clarify

The purpose of this fight.

 

And when it comes to pass that

One is loath to even bother with it;

Participation in this staged event is

Designed to help repair the split.

 

Then, gathering all the players

In the footlights of the stage

Helps to recompense so totally

The source of one’s blind rage.

 

dan © 2014

 

Music: "One Stage Before," by Al Stewart

Author's Note

Reviews

[.]

Very, very, deep.

"Bewilderment vs light"....."wild and the spotless" symbolism it seems to me, illustrating the relationship between a speaker and a listener? A patient and a doctor?? I love the title; very apt. I have been involved in such staged events in my time, and how i hated them!!
This is another deep write, Dan. Thought provoking as always and deftly written. Take care.

[dan]

Doodley, You said illustrating the relationship between 'a patient and a doctor?' This is actually about going to a therapist and baring your soul, uncovering the depth of feelings. Taking the private and making it public...dancing around with your hair on fire. So patient and doctor? It seems as if you 'get me,' Doodley! Your reviews always seem to hit the mark.
Thank you so much for putting so much thought into your reviews; I am honored. take care...dan

[Dani The Unreviewed]

This instantly reminded me, of one of my old pieces "Circus and Cage" So many possible interpretations. A piece of great art.
I'd love to see more like this

[dan]

Thank you Danny; I already HAVE a lot more like this written and posted. You can find all you like in my back catalog. take care...dan

[JayceeC]

I'm not a big fan of the whole therapy thing, not because it's not helpful, but because it can be excruciatingly painful. Every flaw and fault brought to the floor, as if just the spotlight will purify and they will be no more.

[dan]

I tend to agree with you, but I DID have one tremendous therapist who was such a great active listener, I actually looked forward to my sessions. She was actually an LCSW, didn't really like to call herself a therapist but she helped me a great deal. Thanks again for your thoughtful review, always appreciated. take care...dan

[JayceeC]

You are welcome. Otto had has been in the hospital with an infection, but is now home, hence my tardiness in reading. My brain does not do well when stressed. I sometimes think social workers are way more practical than LCPs.

[dan]

I agree. Please give Otto our best, from Dee and myself. And I can imagine your stress since that is how I get when Dee's health is less than good. I wish you strength to deal with it while keeping his spirits up also. take care...dan

[stargirl23]

What an interesting write, seemingly a spin off of "all the world is a stage." :)

[dan]

Well I see a slight resemblance in theme, but I'm certainly no Shakespeare. Thank you for your interpretation. take care...dan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

when i read this i see something different....the performance, the stage...sometimes as we write we will adhere so much to a certain form that we may act the words into stilted performance....the real heart maybe be sacrificed for the good of the show...but unfortunately the show goes on...and the readers feel something is just a little off...they don't really identify...
they see it as spectacle....nothing else.

i really am taken by this write...it made me go places...and think of how my own writing might come across...natural? or forced? i think we all ask ourselves that at times.

[dan]

So you believe this seemed forced, stilted? I respect your opinion...I'm going to take a long hard look at it and see if it can be tightened up, and if that doesn't pan out I will probably scrap it. Thank you for pointing that out to me, I really DO appreciate it. take care...dan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh no, Dan.....reread my comment...i may have presented it confusingly....the piece itself is not stiff or stilted at all...i felt the theme was about that kind of thing interfering with the heart of poetry...because sometimes we adhere to hard to form....

your poem is smooth as silk...and needs no revision as far as i am concerned...

i am sorry my comment wasn't clearer, Dan...

please don't scrap this piece...it is too important.

j.

[ANTO]

Offering the performance up to the fates is cynical but the adage - There's no such thing as bad publicity - would seem to suggest that airing everything will have some benefit - in the long run.
Staged or un-staged, these days, who can tell ?
I enjoyed this Dan. Well penned.

[dan]

Thank you so much, ANTO. I always value your reviews. You always add some depth to MY ideas. take care...dan