Master of the Codes

Of all the codes by which we live -

For every action is a code -

He is the master, and he gives

His life to following this road.

 

There is a signifier, yes,

It does not say quite what it says,

A hidden signified yet rests

Behind each action, gesture, phrase.

 

And when they speak, it is not they

It is, at least, not they alone.

There is no word that they could say

Beyond what has been pre-condoned.

 

He has quite mastered all their codes,

He does not say a word amiss

But yet the mask that, fixed, erodes

Is loose, though never seen to slip.

 

Yet, still, one day, the mask must grip,

Perhaps unnoticed, without pain.

He knows that it must come to this,

But yet he treats it as a game.

 

Already, now, it seems to press,

Or is it but a foolish whim?

The time will come, and if not yet-

Ere long the codes must master him.

 

Author's Note

Edited on 8 Dec 2011 to remove the last verse and add two others at the end instead.

Reviews

[Hayley]

I liked it. I do think, however, that the ending is rather abrupt, but you probably did that on purpose. It almost seemed like there might be a needed stanza between the last two so it's not so fast. Needs to be a little darker there :)
But that's just a suggestion and my opinion alone.
Throughout the poem your flow was wonderful and you articulated every word to fit into the rhyme scheme without making them forced, which I appreciate greatly. This whole piece is a story told by some comforting, wise, yet chillling narrator to me. My favorite is the first stanza. You really started it off well.
Great piece overall! :)