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age, Communication, creative, death, dream, free-form, isolation, loss, nostalgia, poems, poetry, verse, writing
He stares at me with the resignation of a man
Who knows what is to be,
Blank eyes
Cold-grey like a quarry
Dis-used,
Abandoned,
Reflecting the past like faded notes
On a calendar,
On a piano,
Its tune familiar like a face
I once knew
Appearing through the mist
Like a bird
Lost on its journey to find the warmth
Of a new day rising
In the East,
In the South,
He stares at me like a shadow
As if all he sees is beyond me,
Through me,
Pasts and futures bound with weeds
Wrapped in the inevitable,
And for a moment
A second at least,
I recognise those empty eyes,
The greying, decaying stubble
That sprouts on his face
Hides in the cuts of time,
And withers like forgotten fruit;
He stares at me as if he wants
To watch me pluck each orb,
Replace it with my own
And see me as I am;
He stares as if, at any moment
I will know him
Then watch him walk away,
He stares.
© All original writing copyright Chris Nelson 2000-2020
I totally feel this one, Chris. I’ve seen those blank eyes in the mirror myself.
Grounding, isn’t it? Thanks, Tara.
You got me thinking
A stranger or your alter ego?
Great response. I’ll leave you guessing!
Thank you.
I really like this one, Chris. I wonder is there a short story lurking around in there somewhere?
Thanks, Mark. I hadn’t thought of that…but who knows!
” He stares at me like a shadow” I love that line and yes, it it a shadow of yourself. That profound sense of alienation is felt by so many of us now exacerbated by Lockdown I fear
Great comment, Peter. Thanks – I’m pleased that you got this.
Absolutely!
Delighted that you enjoyed this. Thanks.
💕