The Monochromatic Intellect

A trickle of loneliness

Shivers along my spine;

The homely familiarity

Relaxing me as it contracts

Around my heart.

The grease-stained hands of solitude

Whisper as they pluck each breath

Of love-ache from my lungs,

Their filth encrusted nails

Susurrously stealing away emotion,

Replacing it with a bleak lack thereof.

The blood-black burn of

Estrangement lingers just beneath

My skin--

A reassuring reminder that all

Is as it should be.

Hope,

Born from the incipience of satisfaction,

Defines all we live for;

An absolute acquirement of

Contentment would merely render one

Directionless.

And so, I stumble "forwards",

My fear of attaining the companionship

That allures me as acute as my

Heart-wrenching desire for it.

Author's Note

Obtaining what we truly desire could be disastrous.

Reviews

[i.am.the.sun.]

blood-black - that's an awesome visualization. i only had to think about it when i went back and realized blood isn't usually black, but at the time it made so much sense (and still does) that it didn't hold cause to skip a beat. and what you say is true, if we were ever to achieve what we desire (in the end it's perfection, i find other arguments are moot) then yes, it would be disastrous.

[Chris Smith Welshpoetcs]

When want something, it hurts trying to get it. Great poem Ben.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

The imagery craves to leap from the screen into the mind of the reader, I find your wording makes me paralyzed to move away, reading the prose for the third time, I find I want more, well done, great read.

[Samantha ~virginpoet]

Amazing and brilliant I really liked it

100/100

[Judy Ponceby]

This is wonderful Ben. Your expert use of the language always amazes me. I love the alliteration in "blood-black burn". I can feel the conflict you have created in the end. I stumble "forwards". Excellent. :) Although I hardly think you stumble for words. :) Brilliant piece once again :)

[Poeticadia]

Anticipation can be more enticing or exciting than the real thing (sometimes... but then sometimes the real thing can exceed our expectations too!) Either way, it's a glass-half-full way of looking at loneliness and solitude. Some intriguing images and complex word structures here... and some great alliteration and assonance.

[Lowesy]

superb! I liked the over discriptiveness of it, usually that takes away the good points of a poem but in this case it works well.

[L. Catherine]

Great work! :)

[FJ Davis]

Brilliant.
Would like to take my chances, though, Ben, with "An absolute acquirement of Content."
Great poem.