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About This Poem

Didn't Don't

Somebody keeps pulling on the rope to swing the bells
   didn't don't       
            didn't don't
Don't touch it. Don't say it. Don't do it. Don't doubt it. Don't think.

Somebody handcuffs my steps. Somebody determinds my boundaries.
Before I fully understand free will, there is a slap on my head
      and phosphenes like stars that command my orbit.
Before I can recognize differences, there is a slap on my hand
      right hand, not left hand...never ambidextrous; 
      and time out is isolation without a trial...and I learn
                               the fear of wrongdoing
                               remote-controling my existence,
conditional on demand, predesigned
      and easily
      and obviously
      frightened
An aborted freedom escaping into the sewer
trying not to get it on the seat

Im the observer of other lives, not mine               
tied up and chained, in captivity 
attempting to prove an alibi 
                    for being alive.
No one cares
not even myself

Somebody pulls on the rope to swing the bells
   didn't don't       
           didn't don't
It's dirty. It's ugly. It's bad. It's poo. It's sin.

commitments, commandments... Commandments, Commitments
                               Salvation... Damnation
Sometimes deception makes them ring in a low tone. Sometimes
I do what they say, and not what they do, and not what I want, and not what I think.

                 Through   fragments   of   this   duplicity,
                                               and   this   duplicity, 
I would be able to rebuild myself,
                                and Myself, into another hypocritical being;
and the intentional perversion of the self proclaimed truth,
                                or the liar paradox,
                                will be sovereign
leading to the use of tricks and cotton swabs.

When the remorseless hours run counterclockwise,
I would be happy through imaginary experiences,
consistently depurated,
consistently believed to be true.
             
Would I dare to examine the society in which I've been educated and raised?
Would I dare rip my skin...my flesh off of my bones?
How could I blame them? How could I possibly judge them?
Order and obedience in confabulation...in conspiracy...in complicity

If somebody keeps pulling on the rope to swing the bells
If Im the only one guarding my own cell
If Im the jailer, and the convict, and the crime.




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  1. Date: 11/14/2012 7:55:00 AM

    Congratulations on your win in Nathan's "Free Verse Writers" contest Ruben. Love, Carol

  1. Date: 11/13/2012 1:10:00 AM

    Congratulations Ruben xx

  1. Date: 11/12/2012 9:13:00 AM

    congrats on a great win Ruben

  1. Date: 11/11/2012 11:28:00 PM

    MY HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIG WIN RUBEN! love/hugs, Leonora

  1. Date: 11/11/2012 11:15:00 PM

    CONGRATS RUBEN LUV ON AN INCREDIBLE WRITE AND WIN IN FREE VERSE ..ALWAYS AMAZING ..

  1. Date: 11/11/2012 10:46:00 PM

    Truly Rubenesk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome

  1. Date: 11/11/2012 7:28:00 PM

    ' Good win' Nate

  1. Date: 11/1/2012 2:15:00 PM

    Ruben, you are now being given the honor this one deserves. Congrats on your great win with this very popular poem of yours!

  1. Date: 11/1/2012 8:06:00 AM

    Congratulations on oyur win. You area poet I can never be like - amazing.

  1. Date: 11/1/2012 6:46:00 AM

    Congrats on your win with this awesome write!

  1. Date: 10/31/2012 4:57:00 PM

    Wonderful piece of poetry,Ruben...Nice presentation and nice contribution...Congrats on your win.............

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 3:32:00 PM

    You never cease to amaze me my friend!...what the heck's going on in that mind of yours?...The last verse absolutely floors me!...Congratulations, of course! - Tim

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 1:31:00 PM

    A deep thought provoking poem from you Ruben.Congrats on your win!

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 11:22:00 AM

    Congratulations on your winning poems in the "Good Enough" contest. - Oxox / / Anne-Lise :)

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 11:14:00 AM

    Congrats. Again I say: Deep. I love the way your mind works Ruben! Keep on penning that Good Stuff. :) Tanya

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 8:00:00 AM

    Big congratulations here my friend, well done and much deserved xx

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 7:01:00 AM

    Congratulations on your second place win my friend! hugs:) LG

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 6:53:00 AM

    Congratulations on your winning poem in SandyIvy's "Good Enough" contest Ruben. Love, Carol

  1. Date: 10/30/2012 6:25:00 AM

    well penned ....deep....congrats on your win Ruben

  1. Date: 10/29/2012 11:54:00 PM

    Wow this is very thought provoking, I had to read it a couple times to make sure I didnt miss anything and thats rare for me.Really like it congrats on your win

  1. Date: 10/29/2012 11:48:00 PM

    CONGRATS RUBEN ON A TREMENDOUS WRITE AND STELLAR WIN LUV .. BEYOND GOOD ENOUGH .. G R E A T ..MY FRIEND ..

  1. Date: 10/29/2012 8:51:00 PM

    This is a very deep and thoughtful poem Ruben and worthy of a win. Love, Joyce

  1. Date: 10/29/2012 8:20:00 PM

    Ruben .. Congratulations with your wonderful and "Good Enough" poem in Sandy's contest. xox~PD

  1. Date: 10/29/2012 7:18:00 PM

    :-) love your good win' thank you' Sandy

  1. Date: 9/28/2012 2:01:00 AM

    I love this poem/

  1. Date: 9/4/2012 6:45:00 AM

    Loved the double entandre on [determinds][phosphenes]..what a great image to bring in with the the disorintation that is suggested by the movement necessary to get those little light bits going!! KILLER line..wowser [An aborted freedom escaping into the sewer/ trying not to get it on the seat] I hear you ;) [It's dirty. It's ugly. It's bad. It's poo. It's sin.] whole universes of poetry have been written on how this is NOT TRUE..I only wish I had been able to convince myself sooner!!! Life would have been much richer.

    Guzzi Avatar Debbie Guzzi Date: 9/4/2012 6:47:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    I hear you.[ tricks and cotton swabs.] such a multi-layered line! You made me go to google for [depurated]//[ Silly me..Im correcting grammar and not remembering the ['] is an apostrophe? NOT a COMMA [,] Im pretty sure its called an apostrophe. I hope this time Im not making a fool of the Oko-san]
  1. Date: 9/3/2012 3:26:00 PM

    Such torment, endless questions and questioning, church bell I'd assume, morning bells, noon bells, wedding bell..free verse at its best [though I'd kill for a few more comma's :) ;) Light & Love

  1. Date: 9/2/2012 12:38:00 PM

    ...did I actually use the word "always" 3 times in 3 short sentences? Dear, Santa...I need a new Roget's thesaurus for Christmas! LOL! Thanks for being my friend, Ruben. You really are a gentleman! Best always...wait a minute...I used the word 'always' again...Warm regards, John

  1. Date: 9/2/2012 12:05:00 PM

    This poem is in my top 3 picks. I know your penmanship, Ruben. Classy (as always) and always, outstanding! Peace always, J

  1. Date: 8/17/2012 11:07:00 AM

    I felt the need to stop by your list of poetry today Ruben. I wish to thank you for your kind words on my writing. Hope you have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you back here Monday. Love, Carol XX

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