If my mind is ever present
and my solitude's a friend,
dark ideas lead to actions
darker actions, towards a trend;
~
a stoic calm is my exterior
never, ever break a sweat,
in the hollow of my inner being
I've this appetite to whet.
~
Within the chasm where my soul goes
a dank pulsating yearns to start,
tuning out the distant conscience
because I haven't any heart;
~
half the time I am the predator
in the darkness after day,
daylight time I am more subtle
for that's when I'm the prey.
~
Careful not to draw suspicion
I've a stealth-like, calm demeanor,
inside my blood runs caustic
for I'm stronger, smarter, leaner.
~
It happens differently, each evening
my resolve to do things right,
is camouflaged by swift shadows
that accompany each night.
~
My "Lucy" is my favorite
she always does the trick,
carving cleanly through my urges
where the river flows so thick;
~
and they never see her coming
I must say, it's quite a gift,
afterwards, there is "the knowing"
and that thrill gives me a "lift".
~
"Lovely Lucy's" labyrinthian logic
through a haze-like, sort of dream;
plunges gristle 'til the warm flows
in blind panic, so it would seem.
~
Treasured tempo of her existence
spins a well learned tale out loud,
certain intimate surroundings
houses guests, without the crowd.
~
Lightning steely flashes sojourn
chiseled features in night's dark,
I deliver Lucy's journey
her arrival, cold and stark!
~
If my mind is ever reeling
quiet solitude is mine, again;
shadow thoughts link to my actions
will these murders ever end?
~
Shuddering, I shake awake
bedclothes damp with my own sweat,
a fortnight have I had these images
that cause my brain to "fret".
~
I believe were I not startled
from this vile dreamscape, mine;
I'd either harness my inner demons,
or my sanity with too much twine!
~
What darkly disturbs my shadows
as my dream drifts into "play",
is how my heart can justify
what I'd never, ever say!
~
So corrupt, and evil is my "knowing"
that pains my heart so deep,
I awaken darkly craving, light
in hopes to stave-off sleep!
~
The facts my heart can justify
appear so hideously, cold;
daybreak pales in comparison
with a dream this dark, and bold!
~
Then daylight loses patience
as my heart loses it's breath,
it appears this lone soliloquy
can be only ceased through, "death"!
~
I'm fearful for my soul each night
should I die before I wake,
will these hollow, inner demons
try and lose me in their wake?
~
If my mind is thinking freely
why would my conscience bend?
If my dreamscape is but fantasy
will reality be my end?
~
Concerned for the state of health
that's housed inside my brain,
relieved for the safety of everyone else
but concerned that I'm insane.
~
Slowly, I start my day's routine
proud not to be in a "murderer's club",
until I'm shocked past what words could say
as I find a woman's body in my tub!
~
Dr. Jekyll's mind disassociated
between fantasy and what was real,
what differed in our psyches
was our propensities to feel!
~
Horrified at what I felt
while my mind, and heart waged "war";
I exited my bathroom
and quickly locked the door.
~
If my heart is in denial
about dead strangers, and dead friends;
I'm relieved at least to "know" me
maybe someday, I'll make amends.
~
As things happen, over on the couch
lay my dead bather's coat, and purse.
With evidently, no clues in her coat
I began thinking my plight was worse!
~
Then, just as I'd anticipated
her purse housed quite a yield,
I now, possessed her address book
plus, a wallet with a detective's shield!
~
Now, either way my "goose was cooked"
the scenario was crystal clear,
apparently, we had shared dinner
not to mention, several pitchers of beer.
~
This, "knowing" was turning out to be
way too costly, for this "killer",
in fact, the accountant in my blood
made me think that I should, bill her!
~
In a mind that's no more comforting
than a dried-up, wishing well;
I find me shackled to "my knowing"
in my private, version of...."Hell".
~
Comments
Sorry it took me so long to get here.
I'm having little computer problems.
But to it.
Doc, I still think this is some of your best "poetry", but as a story it is lacking.
Let me get this straight. Our protagonist dreams of himself as a soulless, unfeeling killer only to wake one morning and find a body in the tub. Am I there?
The vast majority here is exposition. We have a solid idea who our chief character is and that there is a "difficulty" in his status quo. He's afraid to dream. He wants the killings to end. Finally deciding that he's probably nuts and only nuts, he tries to "get on with it" when he finds the body.
Now, in my eyes, this is our complication. Did he kill her? Did someone else? What the hell is going on?
And then it stops. That's it. He reflects a bit on the predicament and then we "resolve" with a statement of what "he might do".
A complication is a wrench thrown into our status quo that requires certain decisions to be made by our protagonist (or cast of protagonists) that will change life forever. The complication is laid out for us, but nothing occurs. The resolution could almost be the same had the woman not been found. No explanation concerning how she got there, how she died.
It's a scary bummer and then we resolve.
I hate to be a downer, but I was asked to "run" a workshop, so I feel obligated to lay it out as I see it. Even if I step on some toes.
As poetry this has a beginning, a middle and an end, but as a story it's wanting a true complication and a resolution requires a "new" status quo. Our guy is almost in the same freaky place as he began.
I hope you don't take this as a quit (don't let me piss you off). I have felt from the first that your poetry lends itself to storytelling more than anyone here (except me of course, bwa ha ha). If you continue, take this character into the reality of the dead woman, let us find out who did this and put him a problem he must solve. The law, insanity... suicide? But take it somewhere and finish with the circumstance of his existence utterly changed... for better or worse.
wesley
Well, Sir Snowman....
...I am frantically re-reading, and re-editing....even as we "speak". All seriousness aside...I am trying to take the upper hand, get kinda "jiggy" with it if I can, and I'm really gonna try and "put my back into it"; (you probably have heard about the meat-cutter that backed into his meat-grinder, and got a little "behind" in his work, right!?!)
At any rate, I had to pick up a special document giving me complete, poetic license....so, I should be with you soon. I just had a little trouble NOT ruining the piece's integrety, by interrupting what ultimately seems to make this one, "creepy" in the first place.
Please, bear with me;
thanx,
doc.
It is "creepy".
I was serious when I said it was some of your best poetry. wesley
I'm as "creepy", as the day is long....
...I can't re-write this song!
docmaverick.
I agree with your judgement.
Sometimes it's better to leave well enough alone and start an experiment anew elsewhere. Despite my reservations about it as a story, I love this freakin' poem. wesley
My dearest internet buddy....
...you have an eclectically, eloquent, and interesting array of leadership, and tutorial skills. I really DID enjoy this workshop more than I thought I would.
There IS one certainty, one can derive from all of this, and that's that the poet can really, NEVER control his/or her reader...in the long haul.
NOWWWWWWWWWWW.....I have to decide where it should've ended; ya know?
any pointers on how to correctly "unfinish" this "unstory"?
what a sad state of affairs,
I'm soo alone,
where do I turn?
WHERE ???
doc.
:)
Wait!
I don't know if it's part of my recent computer problems or if you slipped something in behind my back. There are multiple stanza here at the end I have not read. A Cop? Okay, I have to go to work. I'm not going to try to buzz through this quickly right now. I need time! Tonight! Tonight! I'll read the thing tonight!
As I said, it needs a life changing complication. I'm rather pleased to hear you want to keep messing with it as I think it's one of the most "fun" things of yours I've read.
I shall return!
wesley
This is much closer.
We have a complication of the highest order.
BUT...
I know you're filing this as finished and it's much better with a more complex complication, but the climax is not as clear as I would like to see it. He murders a cop just like in his dreams, but suffers no consequence (and "suffer" is not exactly right... after all he's getting away with murder). The resolution is clean... "live with it", but there is no singular moment when everything hits the fan to change.
He doesn't trick himself out of the problem, he doesn't run from it, he just carries on and hopes he can cope.
Am I pissing you off yet?
I hope not.
wesley