Death of a Romantic

The bees buzzed as they always did
and storms receded.
Silence hushed itself inside a shell.
Jackrabbits hopped away from hell
still intoxicated.

The village swarmed with threats.
Honest men could no longer 
make their way. Poets payed 
their debts for being who they were;
blessed, and afraid.

Wives bled, chasing phantoms in the 
snow. "Art's no consolation."
Husbands crept along their spikes
of faithlessness. Rabbits left.
High in space their conscience burrows.

He drags along his skinny guest;
terrific, bleeding & uncouth.
Mercy equates with Obesity -
"Let me bulge and burst my longing!
Make me fatter than the fattest Truth."

A woman yelps, "I like a good romantic"
and so she laughs and feigns forget.
"Be like the constant nights of snow."
But when the orchards raze themselves to bone -
he pays attention to her neglect. 

Ponies stall. Apollo's thief was 
phony. Hope is tall and all his
hollow follies, "Entertain the queen!"
somehow like a burning house afloat
with sediment & gasoline.

_"Is all my life in vain? The puppets
with their masquerading calls -
do they see me, twisting nettle,
knucklecutted at midnight, precious,
unseen like a fete with no stall?"_

"Ah, but you've met in Life's divining mirror
the very ladder of your beauty's fall.
Yet still in abstinence, still in nothingness 
along the ridge of this exquisite loneliness -
crawl."
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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Sweetheart Avatar
November 17, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Interesting write, Jim, and intricate words too.. welcome to Poetry Soup family.. look forward to reading more verses from your pen... luv... Linda-Marie, Poetess Extraordinaire' and Poetry Soup "Sweetheart"
Sheart Avatar
November 12, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Welcome to Poetry Soup. This is quite a great poem. The poetic visual is amazing. Look forward to reading more of your poetry. We're all among friends here. Thanks for sharing. Love Light Patty
Brown Avatar
November 12, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I would like to welcome you to PoetrySoup Jim. I also wish you the best in your writing endeavors. If you have questions please feel free to ask anyone here. We are all willing to help and if we don't know the answer we will find someone who does. Love, Carol
Shahwan Avatar
November 12, 2009 at 6:21 AM
Pretty good poem. Would you pls comment my poem-SleepAloof...thankfully. I'm looking forward to reading more of your poems.
Moreno Avatar
November 11, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Great work Jim and welcome to Poetry Soup. I hope you enjoy your stay...Raul
 Avatar
November 11, 2009 at 6:02 PM
The vivid imagery forwards your thoughts in a creative way. Welcome to Poetry Soup! I hope you enjoy your time spent with us. Best wishes with your writing. Karen
Kendrick Avatar
November 11, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Interesting thoughts put to pen. Keep writing. Sara
Chircop Avatar
November 11, 2009 at 4:12 PM
HI,Welcome to poetry site,im reading and rereading this poem.The title-Death Of A Romantic,A Romantic can feel Exquisite loniliness,feel in nothingness,yet He will survive to live..:Is all my life in Vain"?No,nobody;s life is in vain,life is like these ladders in your poem,going down,then going up like snakes and ladders,till we reach the top.Excellent poem sad,deep,touching the core-- a favs--Enjoy it here:)Charma
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