IF
If I were not
not here, not me
not hungry, not cold not dismantled
defective, diminished not
a cipher in endless columns of living integers,
I wouldn’t need this blanket womb, this soul
dustcover, this tented mask that makes me
formless, this my solitary success
to strip myself of
that self that can feel
at all,
that subtracts my presence
and keeps away
something some fear, some knowledge
some sign that those who won’t look
now can’t see
how much I need them
not to turn away their eyes.
November 2010
I wouldn’t need this blanket womb...this expresses so well i think the core of the feeling..and we should stop to turn away..not always easy though..deep, heart-touching words in your poem..
ReplyDeletemmm....not turn away...the invisible people in plain sight...
ReplyDeleteLove the "soul dustcover".
ReplyDeletethe blinded mind...
ReplyDeletewe all need grace
of the amazing kind
I always think the fear of not looking is from the fear of seeing themselves.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written.
Love the idea of all 'not turning away' from those in plain sight... if only we could lend the hand, rather than turn away.
ReplyDeleteThanks all. I find the sign behind the figure supremely ironic; an ad for a pricey perfume that translates the Air of the Times...
ReplyDeletevery powerfully expressed ~ I too loved the 'dustcover' ~ covering and becoming that which is 'formless' ~ hidden ~ away ~ from sight ~ unwanted ~ no use for ~ almost want to lift the edge of that dustcover ~ gently ~ but don't want to fright or cause fear ~ but a strong urge to soothe ~
ReplyDeletebrilliant
powerful message.
ReplyDeleteThis is really strong. There are days when all we want is that blanket womb. Good use of metaphor, hedgewitch.
ReplyDeleteVictoria
As much as i was caught up in description of the homeless in the first verse, the second one touched me deep ! well crafted !
ReplyDeletenicely crafted! and i appreciate this line:
ReplyDelete'a cipher in endless columns of living integers'
this is a great piece.