Fragile

Within the shadows of fear and fragility 

A pessimist advances through a blackened forest

Shoulders hunched forward and head tipped down

Biting winds irritate immaculate virgin flesh

 

Another follows intently behind

Cautiously gathering strength from the first

An optimist broken into a dozen sharp pieces

For the hearts of mankind have been deemed unfixable

 

In a desperate attempt to fly

There is a third that walks in silence 

Realists often forget that puzzles take patience to solve

Enticing aromas of nectar and honey fill nostrils

 

Trailing the others is a dreamer of beauty

A believer of magic and moonlight elegance

But even dreamers have nightmares that end in peril

It is those terrors that eat at cracking bones

 

Before them lies a bridge made of brittle wood

Dangerously it hovers over opaque waters

Calling each of their names with loving intentions

Seductively luring all of them upon deaths door

 

Now atop the manipulative structure

Perched on the railing in a single exquisite line

Sit four strangers who appear to be lost lovers

Intertwining their fingers with the one sitting nearest

 

Convinced of intentions, they hold on tightly

Not a word is spoken between shallow breaths 

Leaning ever so gracefully towards the river below

They fall just as leaves do in autumn 

                They fall without importance

 

Four deep graves have been aligned in a row

Pigmented mud mixes with rain to imitate vital fluids

As a minister solemnly examines the reasons for death

You stand with an unexpected polish and vitality

 

Mournful eyes inhabit once vibrant shades of innocence

Forgotten feelings of joy remain abandoned in the car

Relentless are the emotions that beat against your insides

Unforgivingly you desire to rip them all to shreds

 

Adjacent from you is where I reside

Nearly everyone is gone but you still cling to your spot

I watch as you place a rose on each casket

                One for the pessimist

                One for the optimist

                One for the realist

                One for the dreamer

And one for yourself

 

So that you may never forget  

Author's Note

This is more of an experimental poem than anything else. Thoughts?

Reviews

[Dean Kuch®]

This little "experiment" of yours RT was a visually stunning walk into a fantastic, fairylike world. I found it very interesting too that you had the pessimist leading the fray. I would have thought the optimist could have talked him or her out of taking point so he (or she) could garner all of the credit for initial discoveries encountered along the way. Regardless of their outlook upon their individual, dreamlike world, it profited none of them. All four souls, as different and diverse as their personalities demanded, buried; together in such proximity. I guess it is sometimes too late to realize that we all, as human beings, have something in common.

[TheSweet]

This in parts is similar to something I would write, strangely enough. This kind of style and working has a lot of potential and most of all I heard the voice of this very much so, this is the kind of poem that would sound great if read aloud.
The actual content is dark - just my type, so perhaps I'm biased. There was some vivid imagery and ambiguous tones, so well done. If I may make a future suggestion, to perhaps have a play around with some punctuation. I find that poetry works like prose in that it can be read aloud to feel where the pauses should be and it adds emphasis and pace quite well. But it's up to you to experiment with that. Thanks for sharing. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

You are a very good writer. I like how you put in thoughts in order and make your point desired. So many lines stood out in the poem. I like the complete poem. I like the ending a lot. You create a vision of real life and situation. Thank you for the outstanding poetry.
Coyote