Sitting on this bench in the middle of Central Park
I am nodding off, lightly dreaming of faces and places
I have never seen or have never visited
Must have been the long night of partying
And the aftermath of my illness
That has brought me to this lucid state
Of seeing myself from a far distance
Even as I open my eyes
I can still feel the emotion of my dreams
Haunting me like a word on the tip of my tongue
That I just cannot seem to articulate
Simply because I forgot where I was
And there no one around to talk to
Seemingly out of nowhere
A small parade of street actors
Passes right before me
Reciting excerpts from Samuel Becket’s “The Lost One’s”
And I have this strange feeling
I am right in the middle of “The Theater of the Absurd”
But I am feeling somewhat sensible:
At least this performance
Seems like a surreal home cooked meal
On which I am feasting upon
And enjoying every morsel
So what the hell, I getting off this bench
And follow them down the path
Into the trees
Ahhh, another snippet in Jude's adventures with the world around him. You write of your life so well.
I've never posted a story of all the places I've been. Traveling has it's rewards, and it has its draw backs. I definitely think everyone should have the opportunity to see the world. It is like a steam bath that opens up your pores to cleansing. When you visit far away places, especially other countries, you really come to appreciate your blessings. And in so much as you are a talented poet, I know it will awaken a sense you never knew you had. There are more than six.
“The Theater of the Absurd” ... Great description!
Love your touch on "home cooked meal" ... the 'art of cooking' needs reviving, and your words would help that much required revival!
Great poem ... venturing off to make known the unknown -- Well done!!
Suzie :-D
Reviewed by Katy Walsvik (Reader)
Reviewed on March 30, 2006
You do this so well, Jude... with the brevity of poetry, you still are able to begin in one place and take me to another, making all the inviting stops in between.
I enjoyed the first person telling of this... the visuals, yes, but even more, the climbing inside and sharing the experience. What a lovely thing to return to for me. (smile) katy xox
Reviewed by Ron (sketchman) Axelson (Reader)
Reviewed on March 28, 2006
You have a rare talent of pulling the reader
into your incredible work...
Hope all is well........
This is good strategy. Bounce a few distorted images with The Lost Ones like standing in front of a fun house mirror and you have written another poem!
who knows...mystery, magic and the wonder and passion of tommororw, which never comes, but it's all about the anticipation, isn't it...great and visual work!
You might as well let the flow carry you along, you weren't looking to do anything in particular anyway.;) Let the dream continue even if you are awake. Dreams can be like the "Circus Surreal" if we just let them take their own course. Strong images and great flow pull the reader into the very heart of the dream.
Take care,
Sherry
Some things can't be articulated. Language fails us. Its what's between the lines that we sense and feel--part of the air. Oh I enjoyed this fine write very much, Jude. I feel what's between the lines...
"Who knows what the breezes will bring in" leaves the poem open for interpretation as the statement...Is it worth pondering or not worth is a question, but when a pondering is powerful and worth and even if there is no one to back it is worth to walk...(as Rabindranath Tagore said)
Robert
I tend to agree with Jerry's assertion..
Sometimes we need to do less thinking, and turn on our more intuitive and sensory perceptors, to be able to map a steady and unerring course in life, and to see what is the real values in our existence..
I believe the troupe of artists in the park symbolise this abandonment of thinking and reasoning !
Peter
Ah, Central Park, an enigma within a puzzle. Spent not a few days lolling on park benches there myself way back when, Jude. The Theater of the Absurd is the only way a person should view this life on earth. I used to feel that way about my existence, buut over the years I have allowed myself far too much time to "think." I have come to the concllusion that thinking is detrimental to mental health. Haha!! Surreal home cooked meal, now THAT is absurd to the nth. Very well done is the cry in the park
Sometimes we must follow the sureal in order to be real and be alive in this chaotic universe stretching across the milky way of our mind. Who are these silly rectitists that they dare riducule and laughter to present the arts to the open air, maybe there is a lesson to be learned from them. Keep us posted on this Jude.
Surreal.
Funny how we find ourselves in dreams, more often than not.
I once thought (when I was much younger) that I never had dreams, but now I know I did, I just didn't pay any attention to them.
We've but one life here on earth, we can either join it, or watch it pass us by.
Grand thoughts and poetry Robert.
Thank goodness you were "nodding off"....because your "long night", this time of year, sounds like frosty kahunas. :)
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on March 26, 2006
You never know what you might find :-) and often in the most unexpected ways or places. Have you ever noticed illness can be a blessing of given time commanding silence to the inner being to hear what they are usually to busy to hear?
Excellent write! I know they are celebrating Beckett's Centenary Festival 2006,in Dublin Ireland. read about it in my enewsmail. I hope you enjoyed the foray into the unknown;-)Sounds entertaining ...
Early Works is an exhaustive compilation of the first decade of the poems and stories of Z.B.McClure. Included are family photos, rare personal photos, photos of 1st draft manuscripts of many of his early poems. Also some biography and memoir materia
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Ron
I've never posted a story of all the places I've been. Traveling has it's rewards, and it has its draw backs. I definitely think everyone should have the opportunity to see the world. It is like a steam bath that opens up your pores to cleansing. When you visit far away places, especially other countries, you really come to appreciate your blessings. And in so much as you are a talented poet, I know it will awaken a sense you never knew you had. There are more than six.
~ Sara
Regis
Love your touch on "home cooked meal" ... the 'art of cooking' needs reviving, and your words would help that much required revival!
Great poem ... venturing off to make known the unknown -- Well done!!
Suzie :-D
I enjoyed the first person telling of this... the visuals, yes, but even more, the climbing inside and sharing the experience. What a lovely thing to return to for me. (smile) katy xox
into your incredible work...
Hope all is well........
Sage
"That has brought me to this lucid state
Of seeing myself from a far distance "
Reindeer
Birgit and Roger
Take care,
Sherry
TRASK
Lin
A thoughtprovoking poem.
D
I tend to agree with Jerry's assertion..
Sometimes we need to do less thinking, and turn on our more intuitive and sensory perceptors, to be able to map a steady and unerring course in life, and to see what is the real values in our existence..
I believe the troupe of artists in the park symbolise this abandonment of thinking and reasoning !
Peter
Susan
Felix
Funny how we find ourselves in dreams, more often than not.
I once thought (when I was much younger) that I never had dreams, but now I know I did, I just didn't pay any attention to them.
We've but one life here on earth, we can either join it, or watch it pass us by.
Grand thoughts and poetry Robert.
Lisa
Been there done that....not in Central Park but right here where I walk my beach alone!!
Love Tinka
Eileen
Susan
Can't let life pass you by--get up and join the parade, who knows what will happen unless you follow! Excellent write--enjoyed.
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.