Self Absorption

A sad Observation about many youth

Perched in his youthful canoe

Shoulders slumped in despair

Down the river without purpose

Fixed in violent youthful fantasy 

A graceful heron glides low and silent

Head swiveling to this misplaced mote

Smiling turtles, log-aligned, watching

Their shells dried and comforting warm

Filled with angry rebellion

The young man wears ear phones

Eyes distant and unfocused

Volume loud to jar his bones

Sun filters through the riparian wood

Like white and black piano keys

Stately trees dancing in the breeze

Friends for life, moving in unison

Visions of knives and skulls

Of evil laughing specters

Thoughts of sin in black of night

Of screaming girls filled with fear

Refreshed water slips between 

Fragrant earth, embraced by roots

Gurgling, joyful, rock-massaged

On way to distant exotic places

Isolated by self absorption

The young man eats his days

And spits them out with a grimace

Ignorant of their beauty

Reviews

[Philip Muls]

The narcissism of youth, the unawareness of the total picture, the self-absorption.

I am afraid it is very much a theme today with young people blindly following evil leaders in a fake crusade.

You capture this well. Could you review mine ? I'd appreciate your opinion.

[Nami FallingDewdrops]

very wonderful work loved reading 💓

[B]

I love the final line

Very strong work

[weatherbee]

Loved it!!!!
I am now a fan of yours sir.
WB

[Marie]

I understand. This isn't about nature but a young man's blindness toward it. But many older people are like this too--to absorbed in the mechanics of life to notice its colour and music.

[papaed]

Thank you Marie. It's true. It's a sad commentary on many people today. Out of touch with their surroundings and totally self absorbed.

[Helen Crutchett]

Excellent write! Great descriptive stanzas throughout making this one awesome poem. Love the message and especially the last para! Well done my friend. Its been quite a while since I have read you!

Cheers,

~ Helena ~

[papaed]

Thank you Helena! I haven't been around the internet as often as a few years ago. Glad to see the Cafe picking up some. And, appreciate your reading and commenting. 8-)

[Helen Crutchett]

You are welcome my old friend. Same here, haven't been around much, but hope to remedy this lack and W.C. more frequently. Especially now The Blue Rose Cafe is in business again.

Don't forget to join in some of the contests.....you contributed many wonderful writes!

Kindest regards,


Helena :)

[Blood Ink Diary]

What a brilliant poem - the depth and complexity of human equations well manifested in your writing. Thoroughly relished this fine piece, dear Papaed. Cheers

[Hawkmoon]

that is a very true sentiment. of course, the commingling of nature and human art is often good,

but a modern conundrum is the chose ignorance of the Manmade World over the Natural world

and a truly modern fault of all history is when we turn Basic Disneyland into Armageddon of Negativity

to paraphrase: the streets could be paved in gold, and men would not know it?!

[Daisy]

It's a wonderful poem.... and true too...

[leppero]

nice job here, sir. second stanza reminded me of an old Russian poem by Alexandra Bloc Gamajun, the Prophetic Bird.

I like the sentiments shared, subtle/ not so subtle indictment of youth in general, vivid images.

good stuff, man