Saturday, December 15, 2012

Riddle me the Shape

Startled by insistent footfalls on stairs,
I've shuffled in the unforeseen chambers of night
And jostled with the shadows unkempt.

Fretful and torn, with eyes never shut
I even have swayed to the entrancing calls
Of songs that'll float as whispers in winds
In nights without slightest of lights.

Wonder if these now'll merge to a face
That'll riddle me the shape of the other half of self
And conjoin my words to the running-mill of veins
Where pace has been paltry of late.

Grappling with strings within irresolute hands,
I've fumbled for long with our abdicated songs.

Wreathed by the foam spread on waves lapping weeds
I drown among dreams full of tulips in bloom.

21 comments:

Marcoantonio Arellano (Nene) said...

Temporarily distant but not so far as to being unable to recall what is within.

It's like music. Once you hear it you know it to be music from far away. If you play it or compose it once,if left alone for a while, the notes shall gather and the words shall evince once more when all when wishing to gather together again.

Wonderful music, mi amigo

Anonymous said...

Wow. That searching and longing for a clue, not an answer, just a clue. Completing one's identity becoming a hopeless maze, actions ineffective and slowing.

Beautifully written. And, like always, a piece to admire.

Jennifer Wagner said...

I love the imagery of this piece. And the title is just the kind of title which always intrigues me, draws me in. Wonderful work Abin.

Anonymous said...

This poem has a distinctive rhythm and metre which I quite like - different and complex, but compelling, especially in the last couple of stanzas.

Unknown said...

I felt so much hope still in your last line - dreams full of tulips in bloom!

Daydreamertoo said...

Odd how everything we are so familiar with during our day, always seems so much more scary and threatening at night.
I want to drown in dreams of tulips in bloom too :)

Mary said...

A complex work of art, Abin!

aelfbee said...

Riddles - one of the streams that keeps the poetry flowing.

Serena said...

That last line is awesome... I wasn't expecting anything like that. I liked the feel of your poem as well as the words... the combination provided an interesting mood, reflecting the power of the journey...

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I especially like the fumbling with "our abdicated songs".......and the dreams of tulips. This captures the feeling of nighttime grappling with thoughts so well.

Unknown said...

What beautiful and universal images you've used to illustrate man's search for meaning, one's search for self.

Audrey Howitt aka Divalounger said...

What a beautiful piece Abin. I am especially drawn to the last couple of lines--just beautifully done

Grace said...

The last four lines are exquisitely written ~ I want to drown too in blooming tulips ~

WabiSabi said...

Your title drew me in right away and I found myself searching with you. And your ending though unexpected gave my heart reason to leap!

Jinksy said...

riddle me the shape of the other half of self

Who hasn't wanted this at one time or another? Loneliness so well expressed...

Laurie Kolp said...

Lovely, Abin... I especially like the ending.

Herotomost said...

Its strange because Gollum came to mind, probably becuse of the references to dark and the other self, and I always have thought that we wage these wars with ourselves and listen only too briefly to the voice that is actually on our side. Great piece.

Brother Ollie said...

solid imagery sir - you craft 'em up nice

Kerry O'Connor said...

Grappling with strings within irresolute hands,
I've fumbled for long with our abdicated songs...

These lines jumped out at me - placed at exactly the right place in the poem. You write wonderfully introspective poetry.

jasmine calyx said...

Very good. Love your first stanza.

Ella said...

I love the waves of ripples in this poem! So much depth and beauty in this maze~ well done!