The Giraffe Cries

Life...letting go

 

 

 

 

 

The Giraffe Cries

 

 

 

Dancing on a thread of silk - taut of pain,

balanced deep within the fear…

Swaying to the side in calculated energy,

breathing as the sweat begins to pour

 

Toeing the line with blinders on

only to face the evil waiting - miles above my last breath

Shambles become my life’s dreams,

as fifty or so exit the compact car below- all doors ajar

 

Pointing skyward with gloved fingers and flowered bonnets

they gasp - splashing red paint of severed smiles

and floating eyebrows, merely decorations placed by hand

and contractual obligations

 

The rings add up to three - yet left alone I find is me,

teetering of lost imagination and breath taking nuances,

blanketing the sawdust creations

of worries portrayed in a gallery of netted promises

 

It is calling now for my end - free falling with wings to spare,

a calliope whistles its crescendo beneath a tent

pitched and heaved in frustration,

along the rail lines of someone else’s thoughts

 

Not worth the price of admission - I wave

as I exit this cotton candy dream world in search of the nightmares slowly unfolding along platform bridges of age

and destined footpaths

 

The train departs…the giraffe cries

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[InsanityWriter]

Beautifully done... Excellent imagery. :)

[Jack...]

Thank you so much my friend.

[Keith]

Very deep Jack. It took a few reads to realise that perhaps you are reflecting on your life and maybe deciding to take a different path? "Not worth the price of admission - I wave". One of those poems that I would prefer not to have an explanation, just be happy with my own perceptions of what those powerful visions actually mean. I think my favourite from you so far. Thanks, Keith.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Keith. I appreciate you visiting my poem today and leaving such kind words for me. I will leave it in your hands to determine its meaning.

[victoria]

Wonderful poem jack, love your use of big words, i dont know what some of them mean but they sound good to me. i love the bit about Toeing the line with blinders on

only to face the evil waiting - miles above my last breath

Shambles become my life’s dreams,

as fifty or so exit the compact car below- all doors ajar

Great poem. Did you paint the painting on this too, its brilliant, love the giraffe

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Victoria for your kind words. I appreciate you stopping by. No, I didn't paint the painting, but I do enjoy it. I read that you were an illustrator, that is very cool. Do you have any photos posted or is there somewhere I can see some of your work?

[victoria]

Your welcome. I don't illustrate for a living but done some for my stories written. All my work is on facebook if you add me you can have a look on there. All my work is on there. Then we can check some of each others art out, always to love to look at others art. Deviant art is great for that.

[Jack...]

Sorry Victoria, I don't do Facebook. I have a few of my paintings posted on here under my photos if you would like to see. Have you had any of your children's books published?

[victoria]

ok cool. Ok will have look at those. No yet am still trying, Just had another rejected today. Will keep trying. Will post sum of my ilustrations on here.

[Jack...]

Please let me know when you do. I have written some children's stories and have one posted on here if you are interested.

[victoria]

have just posted one for you, and a painting which is quite comincal too. Will have to search for some more.

[Jack...]

Which one is it...I see a few new ones?

[victoria]

its the mouse and the two people. Booby joe and mazy. Snowy the mouse.

[victoria]

Bobby joe and mazy

[Jack...]

I like them.

[victoria]

arr thankyou, have loads more, will put some of my bubblin bubblin on.

[Jack...]

I really like the painting. I love the ants on the sidewalk.

[victoria]

Had alot of fun with that one, was hard at fisrt but once got into it was fun. Thankyou. Do you sell any of your art? Thats what i'm trying to start doing this yr. Going to lots of art groups and trying to get into my local art gallery.

[Jack...]

I haven't sold any and haven't really thought about it, just having some fun, but I might someday. I focus more on my writing, the paintings on only do on the weekends.

[Jack...]

I just sent you a read request for my children's story.

[TL Boehm]

splashing red paint of severed smiles
and floating eyebrows, merely decorations placed by hand
and contractual obligations

OUCH! for all the romantic, lush poems I've read from you - THIS 360 bit - polar opposite - is riveting. So much in here - so many casual observers in our lives that watch the inevitable. Just playing a part.

The three ring circus - amazing metaphor - it also reminds me of marriages....

And the end. The giraffe. A lot of people find giraffes whimsical and a bit ungainly - but they are actually strong creatures. How strong the heart of a giraffe has to be to pump blood up through that neck.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Tammy. I did write this with a circus undertones and my first thought of a circus is the giraffe's head sticking out of the train car. They always seemed to be portrayed as happy creatures so I figured I would have this one cry for me. Thank you so very much for leaving such a kind review for me.

[Blue Ivory]

Not to sound utterly stupid, but I didn't really understand this one. Care to explain?

[Jack...]

It is basically just a man facing life, getting older and coming to the end How he percieves all that he sees his life has become and what it hasn't become. You do not sound stupid my friend and I appreciate you reading this and asking. That means alot.

[Blue Ivory]

Just reread it. Guess I'm just sleepy :P Thanks for explaining! I really like the line "The rings add up to three - yet left alone I find is me". Very nicely structured!

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend.

[Lily Finch]

oh poor giraffe :( ... well write JACK :)

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Maryam.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

sometimes the poet seems to have that point of view...seeing too much...and then the tears flow from the pen...this is a tremendously moving metaphor...

my favorite poem from you, Jack....and i have really liked them all.
"along the rail lines of someone else's thoughts"

that is a line i wish i had written.

jacob

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Jacob. I always enjoy hearing from you.

[Dhaye]

A very moving piece. You have used a symbol here- of life as a circus. I find it sad for the giraffe...
Profound and emotional.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much. I truly appreciate you stopping by.

[Rahul]

This could be nice one and you should have to write one short story book for kids because this's really a nice poem and kid'll be happy to read this poem
nicely penned.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Rahul for your kind words.