A Player

I miss you

you've been gone a while now

but your voice still echoes

along the byways of my mind

coloring skies of September

with melancholy hues

These days I sit alone

on an ill-lit stage

waiting for a stagehand

to raise the heavy curtains

and introduce the next act

starring you and me

performing lonely soliloquies

There you sit with your back

leaning towards mine

yet just a whisper away

I hear questions asked

never answered

and answers to questions

never asked

Sometimes I reply with tears

others with well rehearsed responses

I am a player still waiting

to replay yesterday

Author's Note

Graphic credit: Bing Images

Reviews

[icelandicblue]

Oh I couldn't help but think that All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players. Your poem rewinds but what it wants to to is rewrite. Sometimes we get stuck in that loop of the past and we always leave saturated with disappointment. I found your imagery to be really strong and wanted a different ending for you even though I knew it was not to be.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thanks, Anne, for your very thoughtful review. If only it were possible to redo a scene from our past (after rehearsing a bit) and have everything turn out OK.

[Relic]

This is like a stage play to me and so well done. The mood and tone saturate this and the black and white picture really sets the stage (excuse the pun) so well. The feeling of loss, disappointment and yet a thread of hope all wrap into this for me. Excellent. Going into my favorites.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you for your very gracious review, Relic. I really appreciate your reading my work and leaving such nice comments behind.

[Relic]

You're welcome Joyce.

[Sanober]

A broken relationship and an ill-lit stage....how well they go together. This whole poem seemed to play out before me in slow motion. ...all the emotions,the words left said, unsaid, the tears rolling down. So beautifully expressed, my friend. Stunning poem.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you for your marvelous review, Sanober. It means a lot to me.

[Jeannear]

I love this poem I can really relate to it...nice joyce!

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you, Jeannear. I appreciate your review very much.

[Baby Ricochet]

Sad emotion with plenty of feel. Good poem Joyce

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you, BR. Just my muse, musing.

[Muse]

I hear questions asked
never answered
and answers to questions
never asked

The melodic tone is beautiful. I guess it gives new meaning to the saying:

"All the world's a stage"

The lights are on 24/7 for some of us. Fate give us our lines, problem is if we cite them wrong, we cannot go back to make edits or do a retake.

[Joyce S. Greene]

How true, Muse. What's said is said and nothing you can do can change the past. You just have to learn from your mistakes and go forward. Thank you so very much for your very kind words. I appreciate your reading and reviewing my work.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Joyce... When a co-star disappears
there is an empty stage of tears...
Writing poetry is a legend of its own
where we can share our loneliness
and be swept away in another world...
for just a while... I love your style...
and most of all I love your smile.
truly... Pat

[Joyce S. Greene]

What a lovely review, Pat. I very much appreciate your thoughts.

[Jack...]

This is exceptional Joyce. That last line really brought this piece home for me. Your thoughts are portrayed perfectly. Nicely penned my friend.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you, Jack, for your very nice review. You are a good friend, and always make me feel appreciated.

[richom]

I'm not a free verse fan, but think this is excellent. The sadness permeates the entire poem. The second stanza's use of the stage to further your theme is especially effective.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you, Richard, your reviews always make me smile. I really appreciate your very kind words.

[Rita L. Sev]

Sadly, there are no retakes, no reruns of times past. The show must go ever forward... Excellent metaphor here, Joyce.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thank you, Rita. I value your opinion highly.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

it is like two actors who just can't seem to mesh when doing their lines...they say them, but neither really hears the other, and the timing is off, they miss their cues and the conversation never happens during the play...they remain two lonely soliloquies barely missing each other...

makes for a sad audience...

jacob

[Joyce S. Greene]

Thanks, Jacob, for letting me know your thoughts after reading my poem.