Perspective
You say life is not a poem
or a story—
I ask, “What is it then?”
“Real life”, you say.
Of course, you know best.
You spend your days
averaging
life’s losses, its gains,
calculating
how much time is left,
working out
logistics while you lie in bed.
Real life gives you pain,
brings a scowl to your face—
you add and subtract,
make no mistakes,
and I,
I just watch
the shadows twitch and yawn
on that wall
across the window
through which the moon
winks at me, sly-faced—
“I’ll be fine”, I say.
© Neetu Malik
-
crow flies overhead
I hear pandemonium -
last night’s hurricane blew the roof off
pieces of felt lay on the street like bits of rubber tires -
She needs to dig deep
to pull the roots
that grow under her feet
to do so requires strength -
my room
a sanctuary
at the end of the day -
It must have been
a stormy night
when love flew out the window
of my vacant roomlike a feather
from a molting bird.
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Oh, this is so wonderful!!!!!!!!
“Perspectives” is well-titled for the nail-biting so-called realist on the one hand, and the person drawn to images of possibility and mystery on the other. The one is closed and grim, the other more relaxed and open. Each ‘succeeds’ in his or her own way, but where the reader might choose to sit. . .is up to them. The poet asserts her position on the issue. . .but not yours.
Delicately handled. I wonder (but do not know) what effect on flow, were the piece justified left on the page?
Thank you, Geralyn. Glad you enjoyed the poem!
Thank you, Moonfroth.
I don’t know either. Worth trying it out sometime.
First of all… I must say how much I love this new format and your poem! Perspective indeed… as that what life and lives are full of. You always manage to get your words to ‘lingering’, let that little voice, marinate… niggle its way into my ear and mind asking me such questions… and how I would answer the ‘view’. I guess I’m much like you… I let the the flower’s petal unfold naturally. Beautiful-mind provoking words Neetu.
Thank you, James, for such generous praise. You always give me valuable and insightful comments and I appreciate them very much. By the way, you coming by here to read this poem is a wonderful surprise. Don’t see you very often!