Houdini ~ Smoke & Illusions

 

Suspended by a leg

in the Chinese water torture

cell of your Houdini charm

The heart does 

death-defying stunts

Yet I’m a picture 

of Buddhist calm

One gets adept at walking 

through thick walls

Taking all the hits

Curling up into a ball

Pulling out feelings 

like rabbits from hats

Still trying to race on

tyres long gone flat 

Swords down the throat

tongues on spikes

Sliced up into halves

All things so homelike 

Chained under a depth

Always holding breath

Love can be really great fun

When we’re masters 

of smoke and Illusions!

Author's Note

Loosely rhymed.

Reviews

[.]

This poem reminds me of someone I know; always a Master of Calm under pressure yet having very little patience for fools. This is a very creative metaphor, P! The whole Houdini death defying acts as a metaphor for the smoke and mirrors of illusions that we create around ourselves; be it in matters of the heart as you write here, or matters of health and peace of mind. Most of us tend to create these illusions, perhaps to make ourselves appear much greater than we really are, or from my personal experience, to protect others from unnecessary stresses. It's a complex facet of human emotions and responses to such. Smoke and mirrors for the right reasons can be quite honourable, for the wrong reasons, a recipe for impending heartache, and for purely sinister reasons, a tool for manipulation. It's a fascinating metaphor and you have covered the full range of Houdini's creative tricks. Much enjoyed, this one. Very well conceived, P! :))

[AJNJ]

A Master of Calm who has very little patience for fools? I’ve heard of one such Master myself. He’s a great man and seldom loses his cool but when he does, you should watch him!
Coming to the smokes and mirrors thing, I agree with you that sometimes we need to protect people from heartache but sometimes people use it for manipulation. In my opinion, no need for all that. Be honest with each other and walk out if it’s not working anymore.
I appreciate this great review very much. Sending you tons of thanks, dear Madame. 🌹

[Jimmy Yetts]

If you're going to fall in love, you'd better have a defensive trick or two, up your sleeve.
Can be a rough game; can, of course, also be a bit of heaven.
An insightful, well-fashioned piece of work, Pestonjee!

[barleygirl]

This is a superb depiction of how it feels to walk thru fire, which many people do all the time with amazing grace. Even tho the necessity of dealing with scorching situations is not welcomed, once you get into the rhythm of hunkering down & mustering your "calm" . . . it's one of life's most exhilarating power trips, to not let dumb s**t knock you off your game (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[AJNJ]

We get so used to negativity sometimes that becomes home to us. To reclaim ourselves and move on can indeed be so powerful. Thanks a ton, Ms. Barley!

[Eilis]

I like your use of enjambment in the poem. There’s a nice rhythm to this that drives the idea along and sort of tempers the message with that delivery. How we say something can definitely affect how it is initially perceived, so your form here is a great contrast to the poem’s content, as I read it.

Houdini was a fascinating character. His wife had continued seances for him after his death because he promised he would still communicate with her after his passing. I suppose when a man lives such a deliberately dangerous life, he tries to offer small comforts to someone he loves. But we have only so much control.

And your poem sort of speaks to this. We can be the stoic lover, taking the blows and allowing the other to continue believing they are safe, but time takes a toll on us all. And no matter how tough we are, we can’t prevent the effects of the things we choose to do or allow into our lives.

Your speaker here is strong in the moment, taking the mad blows of love. Hopefully he will see he doesn’t have to before the illusion takes an irreversible toll. Great poem, P. Made me think of many things, and this is always my favorite thing about poetry.

[sonnie ibadah]

"Love can be really great fun
When we’re masters
of smoke and Illusions!"

I don't know why but this got me thinking about something i heard someone say once, that to survive in love, one has to be either a good liar or a good detector of lies, hence master of illusions. This piece is beautiful, i like the image it paints in the mind.

[AJNJ]

Thank you so much Ms. Sonnie! Asante saana! Really appreciated this review, dear friend!

[Paul Bell]

Love must be the only emotion that you don't mind getting Chinese water torture inflicted in large doses.
Though when it ends in tears, that all changes of course, but it's always worth a shot, even when you steam up the mirror and the words read, goodbye.

[AJNJ]

I love that part! The one with steamed mirrors ;)
Thanks a lot for looking in on this piece!

[Paul Bell]

Will there ever be another Houdini.

[AJNJ]

He said he'll communicate from the dead....So we wont need one

[Paul Bell]

Sounds like my doctor who said smoking would kill me. He's not saying that now.

[AJNJ]

He probably joined Houdini :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this poem is magic...we almost have to believe in it to believe in love...
it magically appears and just as suddenly...poof disappears like a rabbit in a hat, or card/lover we choose...
and then it gets lost in the deck...they say there are many fish in the sea...Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes...Magic? or Miracle?
But a bad love? Can we release ourselves from the bond before it kills our heart?
that is a trick in itself.
j.

[AJNJ]

Indeed sir! Love is like magic! Both when it appears and when it dissappears! Thanks a ton for such thoughtful words today...

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Magic indeed. A bit of it helps a relationship and too much of it makes the love vanish. Loved the stunts and the pranks described here. You seem like a Houdini in love.

[AJNJ]

Thank you and. Kat. I’ve a feeling I’d love to watch a magic show with you :) That’d be something.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

I'll turn you into a pigeon and chase you hahaha

[gram linski]

cool poem Pestonjee, some relationships are full of sleight of hand where nothing is quite as it seems and the only answer Is the great escape or drowning,

[AJNJ]

Indeed, better the exit! Choose life always! Thank you very much for the kind words of appreciation sir!

[;)]

The poetic exploits of Harry Houdini! Very original, Pestonjee. He was a master of tricks and illusions and while we all hide behind illusions sometimes, there are some who live by them as a rule. I am used to doing things tough. Taking the hits and the splinters in the a*s as I slide down the bannister of life without whinging and whining. I have found that those who often complain and whine and give out the old 'poor me' attitude are either weak or attention seekers of a different Houdini kind. It's such types that really need a punch in the gut! A very interesting theme and metaphor here, with so many applications to our daily lives. I enjoyed this one, Pestonjee.

[AJNJ]

I admire people such as you who can take the splinters day after day and still go on. I’m born with a lower threshold sir. Kinda delicate human. I make quicker exits. Perhaps that’s why I wrote this poem. Thanks a ton for the great review. It means very much.