I walk in the park
dragging a stubborn ankle,
left leg imploring the right.
They watch, curious,
or maybe they’re sorry.
Steps quicken,
the air around them
grows sticky
with grateful perspiration.
Listen to the throb of
leaking headphones,
faster, faster,
sticking to the slow lane.
I wonder if the eyes
on the benches
older, wiser,
see more.
See through the
elaborate charade
of limb calling limb,
see through the mask
of pain hurting pain,
see through the
incoherent balance,
foot before
inadequate foot.
Could they see the soul,
mirroring the legs?
Could they see time
mocking the laps?
Could they see the future
take one cautious step,
the mangled past
unwilling to move forward,
impossible to leave behind.
Great transition in this one. I doubt they’ll see it though.
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Thank you… you’re right I think. Sometimes pain which seems so obvious to the person suffering is quite invisible to everyone else…. maybe it’s just that the masks work well.
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You have painted a complete portrait so vividly….but the line that stood out to me as so brilliant in its profound simplicity is “leaking headphones”—yes! That is what they are, but I’ve never thought to describe them that way…such an apt description in the midst of this moving poem.
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Thanks for reading and for your kind comment C.C. Am so glad you enjoyed it.
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very visual poem this ! well written !
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Thanks Suyash.
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Oh, love the imagery. I echo so many others who have commented. Very well done, indeed. ‘ unwilling to move forward’, what a line. So much weight to those words. Great writing!! 🙂
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Thank you Torie. That’s really kind. Am still marvelling at a line from one of your poems” lick the moon dry”… Am going to catch up and read more soon!!
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Thank you for reading and for your words! Much appreciated 🙂
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there are times that we struggle in life, important thing is how we approach / deal with it. your poem represents that.
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Thank you totomai. I’m definitely going to be reading a lot of your travel and poetry posts. Both things I love!
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A lot of images drawn here and the feeling of each step taken, moving forward is not always that easy. Well done!
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Thank you for your kind comment. Appreciate you taking the time to read my post. 🙂
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Hello there,
I love your exquisite poetry! Powerful use of imagery! A true masterpiece created.. 😀
xoxo
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Thank you very much Sanaa. I look forward to reading your poems. Please bear with me while I catch up!
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This poem caused me to stop and think — that to me is the sign of a successful poem. thanks for linking this
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Thanks Peggy. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s good to have found PoetsUnited!
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Nothing but good “Thots” 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂
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Oh I wonder if those older, wiser ones do have the answers…can see through it all….maybe we will be them one day.
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Thanks so much Donna 🙂 Have been reading your lovely poems and look forward to reading many more.
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I am SO happy you found Poets United. I hope you keep coming back. Your writing is wonderful. This is a most intriguing poem….I especially resonate with the left leg imploring the right (my legs are the same, LOL)…..And the older wiser eyes on the bench – yes, they see more! Loved this. Hope to enjoy much more of your work.
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Thank you so much Sherry. I hope to keep posting here. Have had such a lovely welcome and have started reading amazing work. Will spend as much time as I can catching up. 🙂
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really love how simple thoughts rise and get layered…the last two lines are stellar…
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Thanks so much Sumana!
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I really like this.. It put me right there, limping and trying to cope with the views from onlookers and somehow put me into the whole thing about ageing and our pursuit of perfection.
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Thanks so much for reading my post and your kind comment. Am so glad the imagery worked. I’ve been reading your posts via twitter.
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Life is certainly not a walk in the park…however we can adapt the way we take each step with age, and time and perhaps even any impediment
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Yes, I agree Jae Rose, we must find ways to move forward, no matter what! Thank you so much for reading my post. I really enjoyed your poem “Best Wishes” 🙂
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This is such a vivid poem. I can picture it, and the ending — that entire last stanza — is excellent. Really thought-provoking to think about ‘unwilling to move forward, impossible to leave behind.’ Welcome to Poetry Pantry. Hope you will enjoy meeting other poets here!
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Thank you Mary for your kind comment. I am so glad I found your site..look forward to interacting with other bloggers and reading all their posts.
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Good. If you visit and comment on other people’s poems, they will likely comment you back. You are a new face…so making those initial visits will help!
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This touched me on so many levels — and I’m sitting here, speechless, trying to find the words to express that! So well done. So very, very well done.
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Thank you Jen. I appreciate your support so much. Those lines have been floating vaguely in my head for a few days and finally just came out in a rush this morning.
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I’m so glad those words finally came to fruition — you’re an amazing writer, and I mean that most sincerely.
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