CO-DEPENDENT CHAOS

 

Precious energy

Wasted pretense

Living a lie

Vain attempt

Defy who I was meant to be

Futile efforts

Desperado

Blind obsession

To fit man made molds

Groomed for success

Syndicated puppet

Deceived

Manipulative by dark forces

Logging endless miles on a corporate treadmill

Fast track to misery

Dominant ego

Self inflicted arrogance

Soul sickness

Choking on distorted truth

So eager to please

Sadly seeking approval from others

Co-dependent chaos

Awakened at the bottom

Black alcoholic stupor

I realized I was lost

Convicted by default

Arrogance

Fierce pride

Now discarded trappings

Reborn

Blessed emancipation

Sensitive euphoric awareness

Animated macramé of my life

Sturdy threads of complex realization

Delicate braids of woven grace

Work of art

My Father’s nimble fingers

Today

Resurrected for His purpose

I am free

 

 

© Bill Grimes Jr. 2005

 

Reviews

[Carole]

Bill, you couldn't have written a more thorough poem on the throngs of Codependency. You have touched on so much. I have read the Melody Beattie books several years ago to get free. They were instruments in my healing and deliverance from all of the tendencies that plague the codependent. I am sure you write this out of experience so I am sure getting free was no small task, but I always say, recognizing these things are half the battle.

I am sending you a friend request, if you don't mind accepting...Carole

God Bless!

[Marvin Lewis Jr.]

"Choking on distorted truth" now that's a profound statement!
I admire the way you wrote about such a relentless frustration and yet I wasn't frustrated while reading it, but able to clearly follow the thought and feel the internal pain... Also how the movement of the poem complimented the title was truly brilliant!

-God Bless!

[JR]

Bill, I can honestly say that it is a rare gift to be able to turn a poem as quickly and seamlessly as you have done here. The movement from darkness to grace is beautiful� we as readers see the struggle, the self-loathing, the absolute evil so well in the first part of this poem that the change over to the light is almost a tactile experience. You have a rare gift, my friend.

I think that the choppy, direct images actually enhance the disconnected feel of the day-to-day rat race:

"Defy who I was meant to be"

and

"Logging endless miles on a corporate treadmill"

I think are especially powerful exposing both the heartache and hopelessness of the corporate world. Well said.

I would suggest maybe putting a break in the "turn" to highlight the movement from darkness to salvation. The break could go just before the "Reborn" line to show the movement. Separate the two movements spatially on the page to really enforce the metaphysical change.

This is an important and powerful poem, man. Very well-crafted, whether one is a believer or not. From a poetic standpoint, it's excellent� the movement is so well-crafted it hurts.