The Tragic Man
This tragic man within the dark …
Unsure with whom I’ve dined tonight
after this world had gone to sleep.
Deceased the candle’s burning sight
from dormancy, awake he reaps
And from my soul he will collect
Like famished wolves upon the hunt
He sniffs the angles of neglect
The ones I never could confront.
This tragic man within the dark
Between the webs where I had dreamed
Enraptured in the mirror’s mark
A starker image never gleamed
As Conscious thoughts again abscond
and coyly flee this intellect.
My steps caress these splintered bonds
In nervous pace, I disconnect.
I wipe away this mental cache,
And fiercely try to bury him.
I close my eyes, my teeth all gnashed
As clarity is falling dim—
Subconsciously I demonized
As if my plights weren’t dark enough
My face all tense, and through my eyes,
I saw reflections I’d rebuffed.
My heart beat a ferocious charge
as volume raged I strengthened more
Unconsciously my mouth enlarged
And out came this horrendous roar
The sound consumed the oxygen
That stabilized this lonely room
In syllabled acknowledgement,
I profaned, rested, and resumed.
But still you are out there somewhere,
Staring back at my weary soul
Just another time, another care
another day left feeling cold.
So I locked myself in this room
the radio again on blast
I shrieked real loud and they assumed
I’m really fine just an outcast…
But they can’t see the suffering
The cracks around my window frame
How pieces are just colored in
And thoughts again bring rise to pain.
I looked again the mirrors stained
With borrowed eyes I arose to cry
When will I be myself again?
I wish you cared enough to pry.
…I wish I cared enough to try.
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Dark stuff here and penned very well, Paul – so well I felt trapped in the room as he confronted his dark side. I wanted to reach out and help. My gosh, great work indeed.
Yes. Im glad you felt that way. That’s exactly what i was going for. Im glad you enjoyed it. I hope others can look past it being a dark poem as well.
Darkness is a part of us all, and confronting that demon not an easy task. Some wonderful phrases and very well penned Paul, as always. Your command of language is superb and you artistry admired my friend.
Thank you so much Tony, means a lot coming from someone so well versed in the English language. Really appreciate it. Ive found that people, well poets in general, tend to steer clear of something with the tag of dark on it. Im glad that on this site, people can appreciate it for what it is. Much thanks again my friend.
Ah, but there for you go I. A masterpiece of macabre intent, so searchingly graceful yet denied!
Much appreciation Donald.
The dark side of a child’s room is the scariest side of all. What brought the darkness there, is it hiding within that house, abuse or despair from people who don’t care. I felt the screaming within your soul in this magnificent, eloquently representation of the dark side of hell. Your last two stanzas definitely brought me back to my room of my past. The suffering, the cracks around my window pane and more. I too often felt these words you penned here.
“When will I be myself again?
I wish you cared enough to pry.
I wish I cared enough to try.”
Paul I can’t express enough the loneliness I felt in my room, afraid of my surroundings. I couldn’t wait to see the sunrise quick enough.
…I wish I cared enough to try.
Captivating rhythm and rhyme, Paul! And, your meaning is deep, and astonishing insightful. Yes, wishing that “someone” “cared enough to pry”. Truth!