The rocking chair

I saw a man denuded of purpose

With once held dreams pulverised

And ground into atoms on haggard palms…

He cried for a renewed cause - 

He looked to the sun and envisaged

The vibrant light that once was.

Cimmerian clouds subjugated the skies

That used to be lambent.

He sat on a rocking chair, 

Listless once more…

I saw a man weeping to the stars, 

Praying for reunion with departed lover. 

“Small is the world to be lonesome” cried he.

Must he await prodigal divinity or must

He find her himself?

Endurance was no recourse, thought he.

He would find her in the great beyond; 

He would take his own life, 

To find her in the great beyond.

He severed his wrist and waited for her on a rocking chair,

Waiting in culminating misery… once more. 

Reviews

[Rachelle]

To live without purpose is not to live at all. But to sever one's arteries and veins because of the loss of hope makes it even more tragic. When one cannot see beyond one's own suffering and use it to uplift those who are similarly in pain, the greater becomes the tragedy. It is in suffering where you are tried and tested - your soul is being refined. The opportunity to reach one's perfection is there and it is our own choosing to recognize and accept it and grow from it or to sink into the depths of despair. Choices there are. Always.

[Wall Hermitt]

One of the things I wanted to convey in this poem is a tragedy that arises from a tragedy, and as I read from your comments you could see right through the words. It is indeed tragic to suffer a great loss, but the tragic feeling that the only way to break free from being alone in the pain is to take one's one life is even more devastating. To understand the poem is to sympathize with him regarding his loss, but also his own loss of mind arising from the tragedy/bereavement that rendered him suicidal.

Thanks for the review. Very much appreciated.

W.H.

[nafisa]

I am so glad i read that. It was brilliant, very insightful.

[Michael G. Smith]

Interesting piece and unfortunately in ignorance this happens all too often between loved ones. I enjoy your portrayal of this characters plight. I wonder if in his yearning for his lost love he thought to think that his love may have wanted him to find happiness where he was?

[Wall Hermitt]

Hello Michael. Thanks for the review.

[Indian Ink]

wow you are so grandiloquous...or shall I say hoarder of words!!! Enjoyed reading your poem..its was so good!!! Such a hollow cacophony of anguish!!

[Wall Hermitt]

Thanks for the lovely review!

[kublakhan27]

'Small is the world to be lonesome'...that line truly struck me...I relate to it...I think the most painful element of this piece is that the man in question seems to be trying to soldier on in the first half, seeking a renewed cause, albeit 'crying' for it, and trying to recall the days when the sun was therapeutic...the second half is devastating...pure resignation, ending in the 'culminating misery' of the most tragic end of all...this is a piece that hits home my friend...it drips with emotion and sticks with the reader long after the first read...well done as always.

[Wall Hermitt]

You seem to have a very clear concept about my portrayals. Thanks for the constructive review! Can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

[raj24]

This one is amazing, small is the world to be lonesome, both men lost something somewhere only to recollect themselves to find their purposes again...i m not good with reviews, but all i wanted to say is i loved the way its been written...questions to yourself n than finding your way again...:)

Raj

[Wall Hermitt]

Thanks Raj. Appreciate your thoughts on the piece.

[Sami Khalil]

"He would find her in the great beyond;
He would take his own life,
To find her in the great beyond.
He severed his wrist and waited for her on a rocking chair,"

A sad story indeed. Those rocking chairs can rock our shattered world in loneliness...Excellent...:)................

[Wall Hermitt]

Thanks Sami. As always, love your review!

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome muchly...:)....

[Matching Socks]

The waiting is the hardest part as Tom Petty said, but in different context.
Still it's a hard lonely life when you don't have your loved ones with you.
Really great write.

[Wall Hermitt]

Truly, I can't agree more. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

"He cried for a renewed cause -

He looked to the sun and envisaged

The vibrant light that once was.

Cimmerian clouds subjugated the skies"~ Such an amazing imagery, Wall...
I am at awe with this piece...

Sometimes the waiting is unbearable...

Excellent write!~xoxo~

[Wall Hermitt]

It truly can be unbearable. Thanks Robbie, for the great review.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

My pleasure. :)