Editor's Choice

 

Editors Choice

By James Rodney Moorer

 

I don’t guess I can speak to snow capped mountains, majestic peaks or eagles soaring on high. I’ve never been there.

 

Nor can I speak to teeming forests or vast wide-open ranges.

Besides – my daddy never owned no such.

 

I’ve never been there and maybe it wasn’t part of the game plan.

I didn’t grow up in the streets of some unpronounceable European city, where the buildings are hundreds of years old, replete with history, where perhaps even mad King Ludwig slept, or maybe some dainty French King a minute away from losing his head.

 

I do not have a name composed of two vowels and seventeen consonants, and yet I wonder what they think when they see these words compared to those that had to be translated from some obscure language.

 

I begin to wonder if I am a victim of time and space.

And yes – even color – when the sorry letter comes.

 

I have not been the beneficiary of lore from weighted tomes and wonder why my experiences aren’t good enough.

Isn’t life – life?

 

I suppose it depends on who’s doing the translating.

I have concluded falsely, maybe, that they do not want to see.

Or that they have so much to see that they cannot see me.

 

The Postman brings with him anticipation and angst.

I have been seen. Even heard perhaps.

And found to be wanting but not told why.

Was it the lack of nuance?

Or misplaced sarcasm?

 

Did it fail to leap out and strangle by the neck and cause the lungs to scream for reprieve and what little air they might suck in before eyes moved on to the next one?

 

And I wonder – did he know which end was his and which belonged to the ground?

The distinction is often unclear and wants for the occasional checking.

 

Reviews

[Gandré]

Ha! The title was of course catching! It was like you shared your soul in prosa poetry about your hope and sadness and certain irony....this was a great read for everyone who enjoyes inspiration with a bit shadow...

[Blackbirdsong]

This is such a masterfully poem...I love the back and forth of the comments, the elemental truth that speaks to all of us whose histories aren't considered as worthy as others as if our definition as human is lesser than others when in truth we all stand shoulder to shoulder with each other. Yes it does depend on whoever does the translation or those who write the history. My Nation has been written as extinct in many history books, yet we have always been here. Now the US government has declared that we are no longer extinct, making us "official" by their standards. The old wish to wipe those of us of color out still lives. More of my black brothers rot in jail for offenses that others are freed from and more Natives are called non existent - massacred by bureaucracy instead of bullets.

I hope you are considering putting your work into a book and publishing. If not then you definitely should.

[Silent Kim aka mizmetap..]

I enjoyed the metaphysical thoughts that ring throughout this poem, it flowed smoothly in thought.

Nice write.

[☮]

I enjoyed this. These are thoughts I ponder. In essence, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But we wonder, who is our beholder and why does he/she/it behold some to circumstances of royalty and others to more general means.

Loved this:

I suppose it depends on who's doing the translating.I have concluded, falsely maybe, that they do not want to see.Or that they have so much to see that they cannot see me.

I have concluded the same. Hey... I have no choice. Not concluding this makes life all the more confusing. We're forced to create our own definitions.

Great write. Nice to know I'm not the only person who thinks this way. And enjoyed the European references.

[Alexa Tarvid]

When I read this, I find a weariness hidden in the words. Though I would admit that my understanding of this poem seems very general, it doesn't take away from what I believe. This is one of those poems where when I get to the end, I want to read it again to see find another connection in it all. It's very majestic in it's own away. I very much enjoy it.

[Laura E. Aranda]

Dumb Question following: Are you James Moorer? Haha. I was so confused at first! Call me blonde! I will agree....;0)