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| © Daryl Edelstein |
Amnesia Anesthesia JuJu
Since you showed me
so truthfully there's no forever
so truthfully there's no forever
in the flesh, I see, I see.
Since I cannot be real, let me be
let me be a haunt.
Since I cannot be real, let me be
let me be a haunt.
Let me be the night's illusion
of everything you want
and cannot feel.
Let, let your restless bed
be troubled by the unquiet breath,
let, let your feckless life
be troubled by the lightless death
I wear, the tattered gravedust gown
I wear, the tattered gravedust gown
that pulls me deeper down, to drown
dance unwound in a turquoise vortex;
sucked up, quick-chewed, spat out gone.
But like an invisible fool
performing
before a blind audience
softly snoring,
I expect the truth will be
I expect the truth will be
ironically
not even Papa Legba
not even Papa Legba
can haunt an amnesiac’s memory.
May 2012
posted for real toads
Sunday Photo Challenge:Daryl Edelstein
Process notes: "In Haitian Vodou, Papa Legba is the intermediary between the loa [spirit world]and humanity. He stands at a spiritual crossroads and gives (or denies) permission to speak with the spirits..." ~wikipedia
Image: Mosaic art by Isaiah Zagar, as photographed by Daryl Edlestein
Used with permission
You're definitely a hybrid night lily. I so do like the haunting lines:
ReplyDelete"Since I cannot be real, let me be
let me be a haunt.
Let me be the night's illusion
of everything you want
and cannot feel."
They're so deserving remberance.
Thanks, TUG. Good to see you back around, my friend, and that's one of the nicer compliments I've gotten of late. Much appreciated.
DeleteIf only we could haunt the sleep of every person who breaks our hearts: trouble them in dreams, breathe down their necks at odd times of the day... but, as you so aptly suggest, those without conscience would not notice. Such a waste of spiritual energy.
ReplyDeletelike an invisible fool
ReplyDeleteperforming
before a blind audience
Great image this! Great poem. Elements of elegy and lullaby and all sorts. Beautifully done.
This has a marvelous chant-like cadence to it, and almost an I-dare-ya taunt in the tone.
ReplyDeleteTough gig, tough crowd, but keep dancing, chica. It rouses the spirits.
smiles...flesh is impermenant...i kinda like the thought of being a haunt...now i am wondering who that might be...i could read terrible poetry in their ear as they try to sleep...haha...i like the same line as dave...the invisible before a blind audience, like overkill....bad enough they cant see me but they cant see me twice over...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful take on the irony of forever ~ I specially like the second stanza ~
ReplyDeleteLOVE the subtle gorgeous rhymes in this. Also especially this line:
ReplyDelete"let your restless bed
be troubled by the unquiet breath"
And that TITLE! :)
DeleteThis has a New Orleans vibe - through and through. How about a little jazz parade through the streets?
ReplyDeleteThis has a bitter hoodoo vibe, through and through. :)
DeleteThese are the loudest and loveliest lines:
ReplyDelete"Since you showed me
so truthfully there's no forever
in the flesh"
"Let me be the night's illusion
of everything you want"
"But like an invisible fool
performing
before a blind audience"
Your stuttering repetition is very effective. Great closing line as well: "can haunt an amnesiac’s memory"
Fantastic writing. One of my favorites of yours......love the unquiet spirit, the restless bed......and "Let me be the night's illusion of everything you want and cannot feel." Wowzers!
ReplyDeleteSo good, in a dark way, love the haunting and the gown...very well done!
ReplyDeleteWonderful last stanza. I think an amnesiac better than someone suffering memory loss through another disability, as they seem actually quite haunted, though they are not quite sure of what. Terrific poem. k.
ReplyDeleteoverflow into alzheimer's in places?
ReplyDeleteI love the NOLA vibe to this! It has that great jazz feel, the cool subtle rhymes, and the "haints." Just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis definitely has a New Orleans feel...Since I cannot be real, let me be a haunt...love that.
ReplyDeleteA clever take on what I think is romantic heartbreak, eloquently written. There are a couple of women I wanted to haunt at one point but since I've now been in a reasonably healthy relationship for a couple of years I don't much want to haunt them anymore.
ReplyDeleteholy love the rhymes and feel here!
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree the rhyme works so well with this and this line really struck me,
ReplyDelete"Let,let your restless bed
be troubled by the unquiet breath,"
Excellent writing, Hedge.
Oh, wow. This weaves and sways like an incantation. Very, very cool.
ReplyDelete