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

[s y e]

"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"

I loved this, although this is quite a sad piece of writing you do have some lines in here that lift the mood a little bit. This was absolutely amazing, and very well portrayed. I loved it, as always. :)

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much. I am happy you found some enjoyment in this.

[Astro]

Well, no one can ever say he didn't hold his head high, when it was time to quit the big top. This portion of the piece I found quite enjoyable in it's cryptic imagery,
"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

The flexing of your eloquent intellect shows strong here. Overall, I felt the wisdom and attitudes of a life lived long and nearing the station throughout. Interesting read, and I was transfixed nicely undoing the colors of the picture you've accompanied your words with too.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Astro. I appreciate your great review of my work. I am happy you enjoyed it.

[Astro]

Humbled by some of it my friend. Keep it up.

[Emerald Seas]

I heard someone saying in the distance, faintly... Don't stick your neck out! Guess that was you? ;-) yeah... well didn't listen. C'est la vie.
I don't think I could image how a giraffe would look when sad - yet, here we have it, personified. Crestfallen with head hanging low. I can see the tears fall from those big eyes. Droplets sliding off the lashes to thud on the barren ground. Well written, as always

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Sera. Yeah, those old giraffes are a sentimental sort. I appreciate you.

[Sami Khalil]

"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"
Wow . I like this write and the different aspect it is from all of your writes. As always a very good write...:)



Not worth the price of admission - I wave

as I exit this cotton candy dream world

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Sami. Just trying to release the circus in my mind.

[Sami Khalil]

Hahaha...That is some good stuff. A travelling circus I guess...Lol

[Rita L. Sev]

Strolling along her at the Cafe, reading some heavy pieces in my r/r's, and I see - Oh! Jack has written some kind of giraffe poem - how's he going to make THAT romantic ('cause I know you, of all people, could...) - and boy was I taken aback by this one! Completely unexpected, a melancholy allegory that has me wondering about my own three-ringed circus... A great piece, made more impressive because it is so far from your wheelhouse.

[Jack...]

Damn it Rita, no fair making me laugh on my sad poem page. "Oh! Jack has written some kind of giraffe poem - how's he going to make THAT romantic?" That is too funny. Thank you my friend, just stepping out of that wheelhouse to see what is happening outside...Holy Apples, it's a circus out here!

[Rita L. Sev]

Ha! I don't like for my friends to stay sad too long... And you are right, we need to break away from our comfort zone!

[shythatway]

(When looking at the illustration, my first thought was that the fish was lucky to get away..) I've always found circuses to be sad. (And the clowns scary, but that's a whole different issue). I liked this one. Very much. It's the type where you pick up something new on each read through. The calliope and rail lines, I see more than one meaning in this. And the world as a scene..

[Jack...]

Thank you, it is a bit of a collection of thoughts. Written at a down time for me, I tried to express how I was feeling. I appreciate you leaving such kind words for me.

[Leigh]

Quite an amusing, dreamlike and abstract piece, that has an unusual delivery and flow to it. I enjoyed reading this and found it intriguing and amusing. For some reason I found myself feeling sorry for the Giraffe and am still worried about a low level bridge!

[Jack...]

These tracks are elevated my friend, nothing can hangover any part of them. :)

Thanks so much

[Leigh]

Phew! :-)

[Marie]

Somewhat abstract...circus anology is good....

[Jack...]

Thanks Marie

[eglantine]

Hmmm, have you read the Night Circus? Or Water for Elephants? This is a very darkly mystical poem with that "chop-off-your-head" type ending. Thanks for sharing.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much E. No I haven't read either.

[eglantine]

I highly recommend Water for Elephants

[Jack...]

I have been looking for something new to read, perhaps that will be it. Thanks.

[KAOlmsted]

A bit of a departure, which is one of the reasons you're one of my favorite writers on this site, Jack...when you put the puffy shirts away, you really put them away ;-) This is superb.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend. It seems at times I wake up and find that I am someone else. I was going to title it "Snakes in the backyard" but I didn't want to freak you out. Thank again Kimmer, I always appreciate seeing your name in these review boxes of my poetry.

[KAOlmsted]

I literally laughed out loud...I wouldn't have read it had you titled it that xD Always my pleasure, Jack...always.