Richard Lamoureux Poet Dramatic Monologue

Pendulum

A string wrapped around a spindle
Unwinding as an hourglass marks time
Sand trickles to the chamber below
marking the moments of my life not truly lived
I hear the clock ticking
as I watch the pendulum swing backwards and stop
The sound of silence drives me mad
I feel the night drag me back to then
too the realization of my dread 
There I sit in the torture chamber of his design
Screams strangled by  darkness
Night terrors
Rocking to my internal beat
I feel a pain to deep to express
an aching betrayal
a convoluted confusion
I can't protect her from him
She seems smaller than small
holding that lifeless doll
rocking there on this floor
We share the same internal beat
together crying
together rocking 
The clock becomes animated again
and the pendulum swings forward
breaking the suffocating silence
The hourglass now sits motionless on his desk
at its bottom a pile of white sand
If only time could truly be controlled
I would choose to wind the string back onto the spindle
I would rewind the clock
turn back the hands of time
Instead I start rocking again
sitting alone here in the dark
thinking of her lifeless doll!

Kai Michael Neumann's Pendulum of Time and Place contest.

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Al Juman June 23, 2018 at 3:21 AM nice my friend Richard Lamoureux June 23, 2018 at 8:35 AM Hi Al, thanks for reading one of my older pieces.

Yanny Widjanarko July 13, 2017 at 9:57 AM Straight to my favorite box, congratulation with the win! ?? It's a deep content, the imagery was depicted so well, I loved how you closed this poem with the great ending, you are way to go Rick! ?? Wishing you a great day there, it's been a while though ??????, hug, yanny.

Andrea Dietrich June 6, 2017 at 3:53 PM well, you saw mine already. hahaha. so no comment about what your sweet reply below to me was. Sometimes it's just hit and miss for me with these themes! Anyway, you really deserved your great win. Congratulations.

Winged Warrior June 6, 2017 at 9:06 AM Congrats!!! Richard...a stupendous write my friend...touches the heart of humanity...god bless...^WW^

Darren White June 6, 2017 at 5:06 AM Congratulations Richard. I read this again and again, and it evokes the same pain every time. That is not a bad thing at all. Richard Lamoureux June 6, 2017 at 8:20 AM Thanks Darren, much appreciated.

Ironic Zink June 5, 2017 at 5:50 PM You sly dog you, you just edged me out with your entry after suspecting my entry to do well. And you were right; well deserved placement Richard, well written and flowed well.., Richard Lamoureux June 6, 2017 at 8:21 AM Like. Pendulum I'm sure it could have swung your way.

Eve Roper June 5, 2017 at 2:43 PM Back to Congratulate you :-) Richard Lamoureux June 5, 2017 at 2:46 PM Thanks Eve.

Kai Michael Neumann June 5, 2017 at 9:10 AM Congratulations on your win in my contest. It speaks from the heart and the torture chamber of personal time. Your poem touched me deeply and in that sense I enjoyed the harrowing content. Many wishes, Kai Richard Lamoureux June 5, 2017 at 9:38 AM Thanks Kai, I wrote this from personal experience so I am pleased it resonated.

Joanna Daniel May 24, 2017 at 9:00 AM This is a compelling dark write, Richard, truly first rate, a definite winner for me:) Richard Lamoureux May 25, 2017 at 7:53 AM Thanks Jo.

Charlotte Puddifoot May 23, 2017 at 5:13 AM a strong write and entry for the contest, dark and harrowing...thanks for commenting on my work Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:45 AM My pleasure Charlotte.

Charlie Smith May 22, 2017 at 12:45 PM Pendulum is a great metaphor for your piece Richard. Fear can never be taken back, never rewound. Time is rarely an ally. Enjoyed the monologue, best wishes... Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:47 AM Time was the vehicle that ushered my escape so I am somewhat appreciative of its power. Mind you I do agree it often takes as well.

Arthur Vaso May 21, 2017 at 7:52 PM Hi Richard I actually read this when you posted, but wanted to comment until I could read this while relaxing and absorb each line, I find poems like this make us think, and you most surely stirred up the emotions here, also an amazing write! Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:48 AM Thanks for giving it another look! Much appreciated my friend.

Andrea Dietrich May 21, 2017 at 7:32 PM Emotive free style with great impact, Richard. MY entry is so silly next to yours. Just a bunch of rhymes I made up (not posted yet) I think when one writes free verse the way you just did, it has to be a theme that really sirs something important in a person. Rhymes just don't always appear as serious as free verse!! SEVEN Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:50 AM I have written many serious ones with Rymes so I personally feel you can do both. I have no doubt yours will be excellent Andrea.

Eve Roper May 21, 2017 at 2:15 PM Enjoyed reading, Richard, the pendulum has a lot to say if she is allowed with her tick tock. Each step brought forth from the past to the future. ~* Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:51 AM Thanks dear Eve, much appreciated.

Eileen Manassian May 21, 2017 at 12:54 PM Richard...what a compelling write. You had me drawn into that hourglass of suspense and remorse...wishing that pain could be eradicated for those who suffer any form of abuse. Good luck on the contest. Soupmail. Hugs Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:56 AM We humans tend to want to eradicate pain even though it is often what forms and shapes some of what makes us unique empathetic and more compassionate. I do know that for some, the negative aspects are insurmountable. You have a good and caring heart, hugs Rick.

Paul Callus May 20, 2017 at 5:13 PM An expressive take on this contest topic, Richard. To some, reversal of time would appear to be a solution to problems, wrong decisions, abuse, etc; unfortunately even wishes fall prey to time's relentless march! ~ Regards // paul Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 7:58 AM Well said Paul.

Darren White May 20, 2017 at 10:28 AM This hurts..... I would just like you want to rewind the clock, to a point I don't even know where, so very long ago. The Windmills Of Your Mind. They go on and on and on. Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 8:00 AM Thanks Darren, who knows where we might have ended up had the clock veered just a little bit.

Freddie Robinson Jr. May 20, 2017 at 10:18 AM I agree w/Anisha totally. Deep and intense this poem is, Richard. Marvelous emotional depth this poem exhibits. Great poem. Love always. Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 8:00 AM Hi Freddie I'll check it out. Freddie Robinson Jr. May 20, 2017 at 10:22 AM Btw ... I have a poem w/the exact same title. Different theme. Loved yours though, very much so. Love and peace, bro.

Connie Marcum Wong May 20, 2017 at 10:03 AM This wonderful entry spoke to me of the fear a child holds onto forever and carries baggage of it throughout life. A powerful write Richard that should do really well in the contest. 7 ; ) Richard Lamoureux May 23, 2017 at 8:02 AM Thanks Connie, the benefit of writing is that it allows us to put down the baggage and unpack the contents. Thanks for visiting.

Scott Thirtyseven May 20, 2017 at 8:11 AM Ooh that's a fabulously moody write. Best of luck in the contest. Richard Lamoureux May 20, 2017 at 9:00 AM Thanks Scott.

Laura Leiser May 19, 2017 at 11:44 PM Your powerful metaphors and imagery drew me into your inner world immediately, Robert. Excellent, 7+! Should do very well in the contest! Richard Lamoureux May 19, 2017 at 11:58 PM Thanks Laura!

Anisha Dutta May 19, 2017 at 8:56 PM Deep Dense Intense Eternal. Richard Lamoureux May 19, 2017 at 11:59 PM Thanks Anisha:0)

Reason A. Poteet May 19, 2017 at 9:32 AM Ooh! dark and deep, Richard, a nice variation on the prompt, pendulum. Like trying to put time in a jar to save for later, cannot be done. Richard Lamoureux May 20, 2017 at 12:00 AM Thanks Reason,