The Dinner Guest

I'm begging you, stay, doll,

it's me, Byron, 

and the thinker, what's his name?

Plato, is it?

What a funny name.

Don't stand there, set up!

You're used to this by now,

do hurry, I don't have all day,

it's getting late, and everyone's

downstairs with Charlie and the child Michael, 

oh, such characters!

Oh, that's right, do it just like that,

just like you do, yes, don't-

What? 

You're laughing at me,

aren't you? 

You think I'm funny.

I can see that in the way you

fiddle with your glove.

I can read you like the paper,

you telegraph what you feel. 

You do!

I know, because I do it too!

I'm a lightning rod, 

Rod says he'll call a hit on me

if I pair with him in Hold 'em one more time.

A hit, he says!

So we're alike, me and you.

We're the same.

You're sick, 

I know that too.

Yes, that right there,

that tick, 

that's how I know.

It's how you look down and to the left when I-

What did you say?

What?

I'm sorry.

No, say it again.

What was that word?

A- Aff? Aff what?

No, I don't think it's used like that.

It's cause- and I have no cause to harm you,

why would I?

I wouldn't lay a finger on your pretty face.

Cause, effect,

Cause, effect.

Pardon?

Speak up, I'm no longer young, you know!

For the life of me, 

I cannot hear!

Yes, that's what I thought.

I have that effect on people.

Nothing with an A.

You are an a*s. 

Asinine.

I do love your company.

I do.

I must float on down

the stairs, Jerry and Clark

are in the arts room and

just dying for me to man the piano.

It's been so many years since I've played.

So, so many.

So- no!

That's not necessary!

You needn't leave.

I could call one, but I'd rather you

rest and wait for my return,

it won't be long. Or, 

Oh, I know!

This is even better. 

Marvelous.

Why don't you, no, I won't say it,

my words are quite often muddled in the saying.

Just, come. 

Come!
Don't be afraid.

I don't bite, you know.

Not much.

Yes. Yes. Yes!

Charlie, Marvin, darling!

Darling.

Darling, darling!

Who is he? Oh!

You'll never guess!

Reviews

[K.]

Wow, I really love this!! For me, it gives somewhat of an older feel, I suppose because of the apparently nice dinner party, and the "Plato" fellow, and just the words you chose. It has a light, airy feeling to it when you read that hooks you and makes you want to read to the end, just to see if she stays or what happens between the two characters. What also makes it so interesting is the fact that it is one-sided, which, I think, adds a little bit to the airy-ness of it, as well as adds a small bit of imagination for the reader. But if you added her side of the dialogue, it would be too much I think, so it's nice that this can function without that. One of my favorite pieces of writing I've found on this website!

[Vishuddha]

Very theatrical. Stream of consciousness, or one sided verbage. Who needs the other side anyway? He doesn't. I have been to cocktail parties with this fellow, I'm pretty sure.

[MrThinkPrint]

I liked this. I'm not one for poetry, but I liked this! I felt like I was the one listening to the old man. Great use of words.

[Thaddius]

thanks man, that's always great to hear. Poetry can be tedious, overbearing, indulgent. Mine isn't immune to that. But sometimes it can convert the non-believers. I love cutting through the bullshit whenever I can

[MrThinkPrint]

No problem

[Maja]

For some unknown reason it gives me the impression that the persona is dead and the dinner party is a gathering of all the people who, well, passed on to the afterlife. And it's nice to know that this poem can be interpreted in so many different ways because it tells different stories to each reader. This is a great read, and I like how the last line makes the reader really question themselves. Wonderful writing. :)

[Thaddius]

Fantastic news! I love all the interpretations, this one is really great. Writing like this is a departure for me, but I think I fancy it... I'm an actor, and never thought about writing in character. It comes out really easily. Thanks

[Maja]

You're welcome :)

[Bluefire]

This made me think of an old friend of mine, always yelling he can't hear, old fashioned and proper yet not always so.
I got the sense of wonderland in this, as is it was from an other world, a sort of fantasy.
Well played!

[Thaddius]

thanks bluefire! I think I'm going to spend some quality time in other worlds for awhile. Maybe I should keep taking LSD

[Bluefire]

Other worlds can be quite fun, sometimes you don't even need the LSD to go on, they are so intriguing. You're welcome, it's always nice to read your works.

[Elisa]

I definitely started to feel like thr guest was just a delusion in the speaker's old mind. I don't know if you meant it like that, but a piece that leaves aspects of characterization or theme up to the reader is very impressive. I also loved the formal, yet playful tone that made the conversation sound like banter. Wonderful job!

[Thaddius]

thanks so much! Maybe I'm a delusion in the guest's mind

[Sultrysoul]

I like it it's very unique feels like role play

[Thaddius]

thanks! It does, doesn't it!

[Sultrysoul]

Yes it does but I love it

[Nia Hope]

I really like this. It sounds like a one sided conversation or a recounting of a someone talking to themselves with half of the conversation in their head. Great write keep up the good work!

[Thaddius]

Ooooh I like that, maybe it's all in his/her head. There's some form of psychosis going on here, some pathology. Thanks for the feedback.

[Nia Hope]

Any time. Don't be afraid to send me read requests if there is anything else you want me to read :)

[TheLonelyWriter]

This both interests me and confuses me. I love how I am put in a place where I am fully aware of the feelings, thoughts and emotions, but I am ambiguous of the entire situation. It forces me to think and feel alike with the characters. My few complains would be that a little more word variation would be amazing, although you're not often repetitive with words. It is a minor request, your poems will continue to be brilliant without it. Also, your lines seemed short and choppy. I may just be misinterpreting it, I am well aware of the fact that you could have meant it to be like that. My few problems that I have found are hardly problems at all, which shows that you're a brilliant writer! I really hope that you continue to write, you have a talent that can't be mimicked or taught, and you're lucky to have it. Thank you so much for informing me about this, I never would have found it other wise.

[Thaddius]

thanks so much, very kind, and good points. The lines are supposed to be short, but if there's no comma, there's not supposed to be a pause in reading it. I'm very into the flow. Word variation is a good suggestion. I think here some repetition works because it's all dialogue; people have things they'll always say.

Really happy you're confused! My goal here was to entice and frustrate. No idea where this one came from.

[Stan Lee]

You've certainly reached your goal of enticing and frustrating. :)
Well done.

[Thaddius]

yessssssssss