the first man

�Do not wait for the last judgement. It takes place every day.� Albert Camus

Maman sat in the dark
         waiting for the end -
Papa the ‘pied-noir’
wouldn’t be returning
from the dead – those silent ones

        It makes no difference –

The scent of a flower
          or a Woman watching
the crescent moon falling into the ocean
to the windy howls of night –
     ‘Le vent a Djemila’

we are all strangers in eternity –

An uneasy alliance
between contradiction
and the monkey mind:
         the absurdity of meaning –
We make our Gods
from peccadilloes and revenge
      to assuage our unbelonging –

The Stars stare mute
at our irreversible mutation –
We each arise from that same solitude
to despair or righteous indignation
to the worlds horrible suffering –

Near Montereau driven
with intense indifference
between misery and the Sun -
a lone tree halts my pain
I, alone, extinguished
Never to return again –

Happy to have been!

Author's Note

-- Camus was a companion in my youth when I was 13 and spoke to my silence and solitude then -- the expository piece 'the first man: more like a historical snippet for blog radio as a way of re-introducing him to me -- an accessible piece if not Poetry proper -- I had fun re-reading him --

Reviews

[Blackbirdsong]

Jerry, this is just wonderful, lush writing. As always there are many layers to your work. You create worlds with your words and they are gorgeous and divine. I really love the word pictures you paint and the thoughts behind each one.

This line will haunt me for a long time - "we are all strangers to eternity" for it is true and something that we all bound to discover someday.

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

What a surprise ending although it is filled with despair and longing. Beautiful imagery use with the celestial beings looking down upon our 'monkey minds' and actions. Thank you.
Light,
Siddartha

[Beautifully Tragic xPoe..]

I always enjoy reading your work, especially this one. You have such a way with words. I loved this stanza "The Stars stare mute
at our irreversible mutation �
We each arise from that same solitude
to despair or righteous indignation
to the worlds horrible suffering"

Great Write!
Rayne

[Touché Armada]

Different style you've got happening here Jerry. I like it.
I like the journey though nothing to something as this read can be read. It's what art is all about, from nothing to something.. Immitating life or what one might like from life or death in this case in places.
All in all though the last line is weighty.. Happy to have been here.
Now that would be the hope wouldnt it, though I cant help but think of the number of people who check out of life cursing all the way, rather sad really.. but mostly I think most are/were happy to have ever been here.