Rust
Rust
A slow decay is underway
When neglect stays ever vigilant
Movement slows to a stop
Robust iron and hardened steel
Give way to the conformity of corrosion
Potential etched with failure
Layers stacking and packing
Cavitation, pitting, and spalling
Aged soldiers forever at rest
Vivid drippings from many holes
A stark likeness to flowing crimson
The discipline of structure gone
Emptiness and sadness
Abandoned to father time
Painted with the oxide of depression
Fences that guard no boundary
Closed doors that never open
Implements evolve to ornaments
Rust supporting flaked cement
It falls with no one to hear
Massive gears that will not turn
Horse shoes, nails, and barrel rings
Cast away like everything
From the front yard to the scrap-yard
Out to pasture as they say
It’s the price of progress today
Rust is ever vigilant
Rust is commonly used as a metaphor for the slow deterioration of a place due to neglect. Time eventually reduces the majority of the metal objects to powder long after the fabric and soft goods have broken down. The harsh reality of what was once great turning into nothing is not only striking but depressing and leaves the viewer with an empty hollow feeling.
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Very descriptive piece that really creates vivid images in the mind. You are right, Ralph, it can leave on with an empty, “hollow feeling”. Yet, at the same time it can create some memories of what used to be and the sense of nostalgia may occur. Very well-written.
I’m always amazed how a real poet can take an everyday occurrence, an abandoned object filled with decay or simply the feelings inspired to the poet of everyday peoples walking about . You sir have captured the silence and hidden pieces of decaying rusted heavy chain and brought it to life. I thoroughly enjoyed how you captured these visuals of a rusted decaying object, giving it a breath of life and absorbing it into your own creativeness. Very well expressed Ralph, artistically creative indeed.
Thank you Vincent – I find more inspiration in regular things than anything else
Brilliant, in my humble opinion. These descriptions amaze me.
“A stark likeness to flowing crimson
The discipline of structure gone
Emptiness and sadness
Abandoned to father time
Painted with the oxide of depression”
Photography is one of my hobbies and old, broken down, rusty things are my favorite subjects. You’ve captured them in a whole different manner than I do with a camera, but it is simply two ways of exploiting the same subject.
“Painted with the oxide of depression…….” That is awesome..
Some great phrasing and intricate description here Ralph, of all that metal waste, purposes left in the arms if time to fade from use. beautifully penned and structured piece. Well done my friend.
Love the title! Your descriptive poem reminds me of how the material things of this world are subject to decay, rust, rot and all manner of deterioration. It is only that which we cannot see that remains eternal.
I like this one my friend , anything that makes me think , I am reminded ,by reading this ,of how change is the only constant . And Well done !
Very nice poem Ralph
A great poem so well expressed painting vivid images.