Sunday, February 15, 2009
THE GALLERY
There was a beautiful woman,
refined in every way.
She kept a gallery
in which she hung
the heads and faces
of strange anecdotal creatures.
She would light a candle
beneath them
from time to time
and they would amuse
with wonderous songs,
stories and rhymes.
But after a time
each would grow weary
and reflect back on
distant memories.
Their tears would extinguish
the waxy flame
with a sputter
and she would leave them
there in the dark,
locking the door
behind her
until they once again
forgot to remember.
- Lord David
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3 comments:
This is an intriguing poem, but I think you may have gotten the storyline wrong. I think the story would be better if it went more like this:
1) There are not a set of creatures, but rather only two creatures who played a pivotal role;
2) I think the creatures were in no way "anecdotal" because they existed in a realm far beyond mere anecdote. They are more like pivotal protagonists in a huge, 5000-page epic novel -- I think it might be what they call a "magnum opus"? It's more an ornate, Dostoevsky-ian/ Dickensian sort of web of interrelated characters, and these two stood out as crucial, major protagonists. The story is, unfortunately, a Tragedy, but she hopes against all odds that she can somehow turn it into a Comedy -- because she is the eternal optimist. That's why she keeps returning to that gallery.
I just think it makes for a better storyline, probably closer to reality.
--Abortive Rooting Hog
(also known as Tension Haddock)
First, let me thank you for reading this blog at all, especially this snippet of verse.
Free verse is totally open to interpretation, of course, so getting "the story line wrong" simply isn't an option.
This piece is a metaphore for an actual person and her habits of 'collecting people' in her life because she fouind them interesting, and binding them to her, somehow, emotionally, to draw upon their energy when she needed it. In return she offered a sense of isolation and non existence.
That, dear reader, is as close to reality as it gets.
Dear Tension Haddock;
As an afterthought, it sounds as though you have a novel in your head, waiting to be written. Let me be among those who encourage you to put your story to words.
Giving life to a story seems to be in your blood.
LD
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