Nameless

Transitional periods in life can be defined by our nameless associates.

With a knock-knock and a cold wind
The period panelling moved away.
Then the paternal audit.
The other was silent, but
A matriarch’s love needs no words.
A glance blabs volumes.

“How was your journey?”
Fine. Nothing but banal.
Should it have been a grand coup?
Through land and sea and underworld.
Dauntless romping for a certain end;
To offer a prize at his door.

We sat on the suede for single malt
With talk of lavish distractions.
The fire roared off unyielding fuel
And illuminated the crystal.
“Can I smoke?” I could not.
A wishbone sat in the ashtray.

Rich polish and swirling white
In black, exploited the senses.
Scales of romantic beauty,
Descending, marching to torture,
(“Do you play?” He did not.)
In spite of the unplayed grand.

Then my compensation, floating
Down the stairs and we stood
As if to praise a grand centrepiece.
Curtseys and bows and sacrifices
And all the time was frittered
And all the traditions fulfilled.

We walked coldly in the wind.
She no longer belonged to me, but
To empty ashtrays and silent pianos.
When looking straight at her
And her down at me, I knew,
I would return with another, nameless.

Author's Note

Get it out of ya and into the universe!

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

i love this!!! positively love this! the reading of it is grand and the Alice in Wonderlandness of it is intoxicating .. favorite lines in every verse .. seems a bitter sarcasm on whatever .. but for me on writing itself ... the play of communication between two yet all in ones head is intriguing for me .. should i be looking for Nameless #2 then?? ;) very fine poetry says i!
E.

[InsanityWriter]

Very interesting. :) You wrote this quite beautifully. ^_^

[Pete Langley]

I know how you feel. Parental perceptions of their kids` potential partners are inevitably based on their own assesment of their place in society - high or low. If their kids think the same way, you`re stuffed, no matter how egalitarian you are.
You got the atmosphere absolutely in the piece. Know your place! (how many times have I been told that!) Well done!

[E.C.F. Doyle]

Believe it or not this isn't actually based on a personal experience, I understand, however, it is an experience many have had. thank you very much for the review.

[Pete Langley]

OK I hold my hands up, my friend. I missed the point. On rereading for about the fourth time, All I can come up with is that this is allegorical for an not wholely successful piece of writing - in which case I still know how you feel!

[E.C.F. Doyle]

I don't think you missed the point, in fact I don't think you can. I feel that all art is completely open to interpretation. I have my opinions of what it means, but more importantly, the reader has theirs'. I only meant I am not wholly empathetic with the situation.

[icelandicblue]

This is both stark yet enticing. I was especially struck by the last stanza:

We walked coldly in the wind.
She no longer belonged to me, but
To empty ashtrays and silent pianos.
When looking straight at her
And her down at me, I knew,
I would return with another, nameless.

The emptiness is palpable.