The Final Waltz

[rrw]

I
His shadow tumbles through the dark.
No drifts of air to keep him high.
No circling the beaten prey tonight.
The blood won’t sing, it will not feed
a single blade of welted grass this day.
No, not today, not tonight. Perhaps
when evening comes again,
the Seraphim will bless their wings on him.

II
Sparks erupt in silver arcs, drown upon
the basement floor. A knife, his knife,
so keenly edged, glimmers bright
Soon, real soon, the red will run.

III
His footprints fade to dust,
His thoughts set sail for foreign seas and
time gnaws holy prayers to mumbled speech:
an end to things to all that’s bitter-sweet.
A simple wish, a dream, reality?
How does he rhyme the which from which?

IV
But death comes and goes hat in hand, sometimes,
a beggar begging pain, sometimes. Sometimes,
it strikes so desperately, forgets to skip a beat or take
a moment to appreciate the art the killer wields.

V
No pleasure in a feast where hunger whimpers, where
the rich are never full. No pleasure for the hunter when
his pray is unaware the hunt. A better death with God
dripping from its lips. Much better yet a moment’s pause
before the sound goes deaf. Better still the thrill
when all three meet in one... one final waltz. —rrw 1-11-12

[johan]

Now this is a different Rob, just shows how versitile you are my friend, an absolutely fantastic piece may I say, the picture and the poem tell a story, great piece.

Johan

[purplespirit]

Oh a magic poem RRW, shimmering like the waters of the picture and dark like the universe. I will come back for another read since I am sure I have not yet discovered the full strong meaning of it. Great poetry, thank you! Ulla xx

[Lisa Arnold]

magnificent writing Robert! Thanks for posting and keep that pen flowing!

[rrw]

Jan 11, 2012 10:33:26 GMT -5 johan said:

Now this is a different Rob, just shows how versitile you are my friend, an absolutely fantastic piece may I say, the picture and the poem tell a story, great piece.

Johan

Thanks, Johan... yeah, am working on different things... this one more surreal than anything... I hope. The point is to go out on that edge but not so far that folks can't get the story... and yeah there is a story here though fragmented... glad you got it.

[rrw]

Jan 11, 2012 16:22:35 GMT -5 purplespirit said:

Oh a magic poem RRW, shimmering like the waters of the picture and dark like the universe. I will come back for another read since I am sure I have not yet discovered the full strong meaning of it. Great poetry, thank you! Ulla xx

I think you got all there is to it, PS! But read again! Hee!

[rrw]

Jan 12, 2012 1:39:07 GMT -5 Lisa Arnold said:

magnificent writing Robert! Thanks for posting and keep that pen flowing!

Thanks, LISA!

[rustybroadspear]

a real killer of a poem - our imaginations know no bounds - so well written - enthralling - to take on the character and personality of another is the sign of a true artist / actor / author / poet - ok it's all down to the taste and interpretation of the reader -
but that is the fun of writing and -
as for writing from the heart? this is still writing from the heart and the spirit that has been so freely given to us -
"The point is to go out on that edge but not so far that folks can't get the story..."
quite right and so absolutely 'spot on' - why would one want to confound us poor readers?
10/10

[davelyoung1]

The quill of the chill in your words is refreshing

[rrw]

Jan 13, 2012 15:28:01 GMT -5 rustybroadspear said:

a real killer of a poem - our imaginations know no bounds - so well written - enthralling - to take on the character and personality of another is the sign of a true artist / actor / author / poet - ok it's all down to the taste and interpretation of the reader -
but that is the fun of writing and -
as for writing from the heart? this is still writing from the heart and the spirit that has been so freely given to us -
"The point is to go out on that edge but not so far that folks can't get the story..."
quite right and so absolutely 'spot on' - why would one want to confound us poor readers?
10/10

I think there's a real balancing act. I know as a reader I like stories/poetry that is very detailed, tells a story and challanges me as a reader. I guess that's one of the reasons why I likShakspeare's work. It's rich in expressing the human
condition and is, for me, difficult to understand language wise. I took my a long time to understand how Willie wrote and I loved learning about it.

[rrw]

Jan 13, 2012 21:39:57 GMT -5 davelyoung1 said:

The quill of the chill in your words is refreshing

thanks, David....

[b4sunset]

you have dissected the very veins of human experiences and found a way to somehow put the pieces together with a sense of both serenity and doubt.. serenity wins for me, robert..a gem of a poem! .. nenette

[rrw]

Thanks, B-4, I know it may not be your "cup of tea" so that makes it even more cherished... nd I love how you saw something in it more than just "creepy."