Say Cheese

Photographs never lie

 

Say cheese

 

 

I don’t recognize my footprints anymore,

flash bulbs and dusty breaths

distort my sight and laugh

I barely recognize my name

as if anyone might call

on the gusts of barren life that hit me full force

 

Lost in a silent thought 

bouncing from shutter to shutter

blistering paint and chipping sorrows

outside the windows, smeared of tears

resting on cheddar sills

reflecting unknown images, as I stare

 

Photographic headlines swing on wire fences

twisted around dreams and laced with unforgiving pain

rusting in the rain, falling piece by tiny piece

until words read like fragmented sentences

in amber speckles on the walk, 

asking me to believe

 

A three legged cat begs for a mouse,

yet the only thing held in this trap is me

folding another fitted sheet (I hate folding fitted sheets)

as Tripod claws at my leathered skin

trying to erase the scars, captured in the lens

which mocks me…say cheese

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Kristin Lee]

This poem packs a power house of emotions. I understand not remembering. I have a plethora of repressed memories and I've been told they are unrecoverable. A whole segment of my life, just gone. The mind is funny that way. All that's left are pictures. Very well written friend.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Kristin

[carol burgess romance]

you say so much in this poem...filled with so much emotion....great read

[Jack...]

Thank you so much Carol. I enjoy when you stop by.

[s y e]

Lost in a silent thought
bouncing from shutter to shutter
blistering paint and chipping sorrows

~~ Your stanzas are great. The imagery and wording is great. It's a different write from Jackomantic. Photos hold memories, sometimes good ones other times ones that you can't believe happened or memories that aren't too good.

Have you ever thought, 'Did that even happen?' Or 'Oh my gosh! Did I look like that?" Haha, I do it, I loved this my friend.

~ noodle

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend.

[Kwiksie Ifediora]

I can feel the heavy emotion, it creased my brow.
I particularly love the last stanza though.
So many experiences are shared in this-
--saddening but well constructed piece.
Thanks for sharing.

[Jack...]

Thank you so very much.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

A piece to wrap our arms around x

[Jack...]

Thanks Thomas

[sakshi arora]

ribbon of words beautifully decorated

[Jack...]

Thanks so much.

[Angi]

This makes me think the speaker feels like there will be no more good things ahead. They are looking back at long ago pictures, memories. The last words make me see a miserable grimace of a smile.. Sadness here. Angi~

[Jack...]

You may be exactly right Angi. Thanks so much for reading my work.

[Angi]

My pleasure, Jack. I hope the speaker finds some peace and happiness asap. Angi~

[.]

So nice! I loved the ending.
'A three legged cat begs for a mouse,
yet the only thing held in this trap is me
folding another fitted sheet (I hate folding fitted sheets)
as Tripod claws at my leathered skin
trying to erase the scars, captured in the lens
which mocks me…say cheese'

Beautiful, just beautiful.

[Jack...]

Thank you so much

[.]

You're welcome. :)

[Mark]

Such sadness... dreariness.. I feel like I"m looking at old photos yellowed at the edges, a bit warped, of poor times and poorer people. You paint quite a picture here. BTW... I hate folding fitted sheets too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTyH2nuFAw

[Jack...]

Thanks Mark. I'm not sue the video could even help me

[Baby Ricochet]

Great poem. Applause all around for jack!

[Jack...]

Thank you sir.