I died again last night. Faded, like the echo of a desperate fall, finally escaping the high canyon walls. Cooled, like love’s warmth Iced by infidelity, Now, gravel cold. Drained like the blood fleeing the fingers Of an unclenching fist. I died again last night. Shredded like faith betrayed By an ugly truth. Toppled like the towers Where concrete and steel Gave way to blue and plumes Of dust and flesh. Evaporated like the last drop Of the last rain Before the longest drought of reason. I died again last night When the pretenders Turned away From the acceptable losses, Collateral damage. When the pretenders Turned back Raised their fists Beat their chests, wives and logic Like the droning drums of war. I died again last night To holster the rage reaction, To break the hypocrisy of impending expected redundancy, To finally father all the wasted seeds, To reclaim that sense of ownership Stolen in the night, stolen in the morning. Though I’d sworn it could never be done. So, I died again last night.
John Dalton's questions:
Question One: Does anyone get this poem?? What I mean, I suppose, does anyone share in the sense of hopelessness and outrage that I hope it expresses?
Question Two: Is it too much? Is it to angry, depressing, intense? Or not enough?
Question Three: What about the use of concrete images, do they convey the deeper, or larger sense that was intended or do they distract?
Question Four: How important is it that I feel this poem should be heard aloud rather than read silently??