please, indulge me for a moment
if you’ve a few to spare
as I seize this opportunity
at a live, captive audience of one
for singularity of expression is
the form behind my function
or the function of my form, if you will
let not my darting eyes deceive you
for in their tone, a truth lies waiting
with the ulterior motive to consume you
in a bouncing narrative of woe is me
and woe is you, a self-imposed exile
loathing for the rest of them
as they tumble through a rhythm
of misunderstanding and waiting rooms
waiting for the afflicted to recognize
their affliction in a time of reflection
that ain’t nobody got the time for
and it’s me, if lucky, will land
a hook, and reel in the unsuspecting
revealing the unwilling, kicking on
the shore while the sun warms
our scales, better than an
alleyway or broken bottle, unless
that’s your thing, who am I
to judge, but I will, because
that’s my thing with my dime
store pen and stolen notebook
there’s no denying the rhythm
to this, sounds a lot like
the last, hope the next one
doesn’t give up on me like
the first one did, out of
necessity or over-exposure it’s a
dead-ringer for something I’m
sure I’ve heard before, or maybe
read, as I tend to ignore most
what I hear, show don’t tell
they say, but wait, I got
something to say, not something
to show you, try and give that
up for an original thought once
in a while, or don’t, it’s
no skin off my teeth, but I
got some skin in the game, that’s for sure
not sure how, or when that happened
but it’s what they tell me, I’ve
been assured, reassured, promises made
it’s coming, we just have to
get there in the nick of time
as we’re wasting time, daring
the last shoe to drop, for the
debt collectors and admiration junkies
who suck everything dry around us
as if there was ever any life
to be found in this place, in the first place
but there’s something shared in
knowing that you’re not the only one
who leaves the hallway light on
when you leave your house for the last time
Check out M. Ennenbach’s blog here
or his books here
Dang.
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Dang, is right.
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Love it all, but… “a truth lies waiting” …yeah, “Dang!”
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Thank you very much.
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Awesome writing !
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Thank you!
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You’re welcome!
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💚💜
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Thanks, Cassa. Or is it Bassa?
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It is Cassa (Cas, Carrie)
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Cassa it is then.
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👍
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Love this, River. Insightful and I really enjoy how you share a piece of yourself with us.
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Thank you very much, Ajay.
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I’m just in love with this bromance
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It’s a tale as old as time
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Very nice.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome!
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I follow both of you and you’re both so talented. Really impressive.
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Thank you very much!
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I’m lucky this morning
the sun rose again
to light up the hallway
and I’m the first one
to walk out the door
and the only one left
to see my ghost
quivering there…….
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Thank you for reading, Ivor. And for the great comment.
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Always my pleasure
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This was a wild ride, and your endings always make me breathe in deeply.
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Thank you very much for reading!
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Another beautifully crafted narrative in verse, River. Loved this. You’re a sculptor of words, that’s for sure.
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Thank you very much, Alli.
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Wow. Excellent. Thankyou for sharing.
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Thank you very much for reading.
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Hi River
It sure has rhythm – was not certain what it was all about after a single reading. I thought, initially, you and M.E. had some weird poets’ feud going on. Keep on stealing the note-books, dart those eyes, bottle-fight!
After reading it aloud (twice) – love it.
One thing stuck out for me – the first line – it’s what I wrote to start a penultimate email to my old love-friend and then all hell broke loose. I have used it in a poem – to commemorate that day – in my fast-expanding Excess Baggage collection.
Keep well!!
Steve
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Yeah, no feud. I was just trying to have some fun, taking a more absurdist perspective on things. Thanks for the feedback.
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Hi River.
Wot, no feud? I thought there was a Hatfield-McCoy thing going on. Anyway – great poem.
Keep on taking the disinfectant – what a hoot!! Wonder what today’s wonder-drug is – some hue of Kryptonite?
Cheers
Steve
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Amazing and yes, dang!!
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Thank you very much.
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Wow! It felt like a motorcycle ride!
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I appreciate that, thank you.
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Thank YOU for the ride.
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Superb writing.
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Thank you!
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My pleasure
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Dayuuuum! Soul deep rhythm 🎵
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Thanks, Rita!
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Fantastic poem, River. Reminds me of the lyrics to a Marillion song (don’t know whether you know them, but they’ve always been my favourite band) as they’re a similar brilliantly crafted and observed style. For instance, I love ‘…affliction in a time of reflection’ – wonderful. Happy New Year to you both. 🙂
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Hey, thanks a lot, Alli. I do remember Marillion. My older sister had the album Misplaced Childhood (I think) and I recall being quite fascinated with the artwork as a young child.
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Their artwork was really impressive back then, when Fish was the lead singer, but the band are still going strong, with their (now longstanding) lead Steve Hogarth. Check out one of my favourite tracks, ‘Neverland’ on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZh17m2IBbk
Enjoy… 🙂
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Thanks, Alli. I’ll check that song out, for sure.
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Ain’t nobody got time for that but I always got time for this! Love it!
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Thank you very much!
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That sounds like college
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Ha, ha, thanks for reading.
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The last two lines made me pause and hold my breath. Beautiful.
I enjoyed the part about showing and not telling and having something to say. Indeed!
Happy New Year!
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Thanks, Sam. Happy New Year to you, too.
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