Sole Survivor

From Terry @Mobius Faith


Dawn is haunting in a city that never sleeps
It becomes more so when suddenly you are swallowed by silence.

No drunken laughter as couples stroll through the gray
giggling of all they shouldn't do...but will

Now...they stroll silent
And the Paddy Wagon Pub that never closes carries a stench worse than stale ale

The chosen one wears a crown of invincibility against the rolling quiet
Though their calling will not be recognized till day break

When the sound of morning traffic and racing deadlines
Fails to show up to start internal blinders through a cup of morning chaos that has become the norm

Chaos has taken to the streets and the only way to salvation is to climb
High above the wounded, the dying, the dead who live below

Caught somewhere between prayers and the unknown, the gaslight burns on high
A flickering metaphor for the new day you hope will dawn

As you lay your head on a dusty and forgotten tar paper pillow
wondering just how blessed you really are.


Claudia is bringing Terry of Mobius Faith by for a visit to Poetics today.  If you want to see some fantastic images chosen to inspire your pen...I urge you visit...gonna be a good show! Linking up with dVerse at 3pmEST...see you there!

Comments

Brian Miller said…
caught somewhere between...the gaslight burns....not easy to find a place of solace in the city...to rise above the chaos...you capture well its grit from texture to smell...the city never sleeps...and seldom takes a shower...
Claudia said…
Chaos has taken to the streets and the only way to salvation is to climb
High above the wounded, the dying, the dead who live below...that's the key line for me here..the connection to the glass house, the trying to find some peace in the hectic around us...great take on the pic tash
Laurie Kolp said…
Oh, so powerful, Tash... I especially like:

Chaos has taken to the streets and the only way to salvation is to climb
High above the wounded, the dying, the dead who live below

Caught somewhere between prayers and the unknown, the gaslight burns on high
A flickering metaphor for the new day you hope will dawn
Mary said…
You have really created atmosphere in your poem, Tash....dark and ominous surrounded by 'a stench worse than stale ale' but still at the end there is hope!
Unknown said…
Beautiful, haunting and 'chosen one wears a crown of invincibility against the rolling quiet' quite the bit of lyric brilliance.
Jenny Herner said…
Lovely, haunting, love the cup of chaos, and caught between prayers and the unknown, all of it!
Anonymous said…
This is great Tasha. So many visual images. The line, "Caught somewhere between prayers and the unknown, the gaslight burns on high
A flickering metaphor for the new day you hope will dawn" is just perfect.
Really well done. Love what you did here.
Unknown said…
"As you lay your head on a dusty and forgotten tar paper pillow
wondering just how blessed you really are."
I always enjoy reading your work and especially like the way this one ends :)
henry clemmons said…
I felt a step back in time, A voice of reflection and comentary both, the sun rises to the same, yesterday and today. I enjoyed this!
Anonymous said…
dark and beautiful.

"Chaos has taken to the streets and the only way to salvation is to climb
High above the wounded, the dying, the dead who live below"

absoltuely loved this part...
great choice of words, wonderful imagery.
Anonymous said…
Agh. Strong/scary - paddy wagon pub awful! Powerful though! Mine is along a similar though quite different vein too, but more political. Thanks, Tash. k.
jane hewey said…
When you bring in the Paddy Wagon Pub that never closes I am hooked -big time. You've found the warmth in the desolation, and it is stunning.
Glenn Buttkus said…
Whoa, Tash, this is so dark it make FRINGE seem like a Sit-Com, as protagonist becomes legend, one of the last, pleasing to J.J. Abrams and me. Your imagination broke the tether and has bound down dark streets frightened of the silence, drawn to the darkness; beyond cool, def.
Uneven Stephen said…
That first line is killer! I also love the idea of chaos becoming the norm. Bleakly wonderful poem, Natasha!
Anonymous said…
It's amazing how we can turn away,and suffering becomes normal as we get on with our lives...climbing high above the dead and wounded...strong lines.
Beth Winter said…
Very haunting and enthralling. Wonderful
marousia said…
Gritty - love the atmosphere, all the textures - so visual
Susan said…
I think all of the lines have already been chosen, but I couldn't choose anyway in this unbroken mood with its chosen one . . . I so expected to find him beaten to a pulp by the end . . . the suspense hangs realistically as something could strike at any time. The sense of religious spirit is alive in every image, however, from the dawn resurrection to the gas light to the possibility of being blessed. Wow. You caught it.
Nilanjana Bose said…
Bleak and beautiful! enjoyed your cup of urban chaos, thanks
Dana Dampier said…
Very intense! I could see it playing in my head as if I was watching it on a big screen.
Unknown said…
cool piece, love the response you got. The senses you got involved nicely, and some fun and effective phrases too, crown of invincibility, internal blinders through a cup of morning chaos-very cool. Great read. Thanks
Dave King said…
Chaos has taken to the streets and the only way to salvation is to climb
High above the wounded, the dying, the dead who live below

This is so redolent of what we see of life today.

You encapsulate so much so economically in this poem.
Anonymous said…
Wonderfully atmospheric
Anonymous said…
I absolutely was speechless after reading your latest my dear poetess. You truly have a gift or creative word. Im honored and thrilled to have your friendship. Namaste and thank you for sharing, with the world in general, but with me personally. Michael
Ben Ditty said…
Your poem states everything we try to forget about the world we've created. And it does so beautifully.

Popular Posts