BALLAD OF KEN

08 25 97 - 03 20 13

The fear is back, encasing me
like sunrise on a day
I'm sitting in my owner's lap
who's riled up to play

I wish that she would call some friends
and make a plan to leave
'cause when I see her in the room
I feel my body heave

Her joy I cannot comprehend
My pain she cannot feel
for the more I'm shaken, dropped, and thrown
the more delight she wields

I wait for other ones to help
but they do not comply
Revolt is just impossible
They're just as scared as I

Despite the fear, one thing is true
it isn't infinite
for once I'm played with long enough
I'll be divorced in bits

When this occurs I'll be swept up
forgotten and replaced
My fear will then evolve to death
and she'll move on in haste

Author's Note

Old. Nuff said...

Reviews

[Androglossia]

I think the more you love and feel loved, the greater the increase of your anxiety because when you do something and feel something beyond the usual for someone you start to fear that you are not good enough and then you lose your clarity. And then suddenly it requires seeing who you are doing it for and their appreciation to make you feel secure. And whoa, your rhyming is awesome!

[kublakhan27]

Barbie and Ken were the couple I used as a metaphor for this, long before they discontinued with the production of Ken (I'm pretty sure I heard that a little while ago)...maybe this is prophetic in the sense that even dolls grow romantically insecure after a while :P You definitely become a different person when romance is in your sights...there are not enough numbers to count the times I embarrassed myself through school trying to impress girls...but I've never bought into that "be yourself" mentality that everyone used to try and console me with...at least I got a response when I wasn't being myself haha Thank you Maryanne for reading and understanding :)

[Androglossia]

I got the feeling that you were referring to that doll but I set the name aside and delve into the content of the poem. At least I've learned that assumption could make you look stupid, lol. But there's still uncertainty on there and yes when it comes to love we can become a different person. I for one am520no stranger to it. You're welcome, Steve! Happy April Fools':)

[Androglossia]

I don't know what happened but it should be: I for one am no stranger to it.

[kublakhan27]

There's nothing stupid about what you say Maryanne :) You've never been wrong on anything I've written, this is no exception :)

[Androglossia]

Relieved*

[Kenneth The Poet]

So very true, despite the vintage. Quite good.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks very much Kenneth.

[Kenneth Nicholas Lowe]

I like the fact that it has my name it, and ironically i could relate this entire poem to what i felt the first time i was infacutated with a girl....love this poem

[kublakhan27]

It's funny how poems/songs with our name in them just seem to work that way...I think a lot of guys can relate to this one, I know of at least one other...thank you Kenneth

[Shirlena]

Old but very relevant and artistic...I shudder at some of my old stuff at the very beginning. Oh I was awful...I created a lot of hit or misses mostly missing the mark but i studied hard and worked diligently to find my own voice. You found yours early obviously Mr. Steve ;)

[kublakhan27]

Haha Trust me, the misses far outweigh the hits on my end, I only share the ones that aren't totally embarrassing...I did a lot of rhyming in the early going, and this was the first one that sounded right, but not before many wrongs got written...thank you Shirlena :)

[Shirlena]

Well I think that is what refines us is the mistakes...I'm grateful for mine because I wouldn't have the "persuasion" that I chose. You know what I mean? It took me a while and I am still evolving :).

[kublakhan27]

We're always evolving my friend...that's what inspires us to keep going :)

[Kleio13]

"My fear will then evolve to death
and she'll move on in haste" I love these lines.

What are your greatest fears?

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it bud...I'd love to say I'm one of those people that live wild and fearless, but you'd probably need a series of encyclopedias to cover all of the fears that cross my mind from day to day.

[Kleio13]

I am with you on that one.

[Troy Henson]

I like the analogy that we are all a simple play thing to others. Unfortunately we are disposable in many eyes but its what we make of these experiences that allows to really learn about ourselves.

Regards
Troy

[kublakhan27]

True words...thank you for your review Troy.

[Rita L. Sev]

A great metaphor for feeling "disposable" in a relationship and/or a clever cry, a la "Toy Story", from the much put-upon Ken. Either way, this is a great read, Steve.

for the more I'm shaken, dropped, and thrown
the more delight she wields

These lines reminded me of Prelutsky's "Oh, Teddy Bear": http://risingwriterblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/oh-teddy-bear-by-jack-prelutsky.html

[kublakhan27]

Haha True, but it was your poem that inspired me to feature this...I rarely feature pieces this old...glad you enjoyed it my friend.

[Lyn Anderson]

A really interesting write. I take it you want us to know it's old so we don't think this is a current heartache? Well done.

[kublakhan27]

Oh there are still heartaches, but I find this old stuff to be rather naive compared to how my voice sounds now, and I want to make it a point to distance the two...thank you K.

[Frieda P]

The title is intriguing and follows suit feeling used and plastic, if not abused as a plaything, sometimes the things, people, we cherish most are discarded carelessly....but only YOU could come up with this analogy Benji! Uniquely you and superb my friend. :) xo Where's that sports car? .........................

[kublakhan27]

So true Mrs.R, you've hit the nail on the head as always...funny, this poem is twenty years old, and i haven't changed a bit...I'd love to say that I have, but no...maybe a sports car would change my tune ;) Glad you enjoyed it love :) xo

[Frieda P]

I guess you have to wait for your mid-life extension crisis haha Don't you know, most everything changes except the things you want to....sillyhead ;) xo

[kublakhan27]

Haha Sillyhead...that made me smile ;) xo

[ms. barrie]

very poignant write, Mr. Steve...depicting when one keeps giving their
love, to the ones they want to love over and over again...hoping
it'll be finally reciprocated one day. yet the mind knows it'll never really
be, unless it's under a facade or a condition.

I love the sarcastic...disillusioned tone to this...I disagree...
this is far from being juvenile by any means!

excellent write, Mr. Steve! :))

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Miss Barrie, I'm glad that this one spoke to you as it did...I'd love to say I've changed since I first wrote it so long ago, but the sarcasm and disillusion are still very much intact...oh well, it keeps me creative at least ;P And thank you so much for disagreeing...I wasn't too keen on that ;) Thank you my dear friend :) x

[ms. barrie]

you're very welcome, Mr. Steve :) - true but they're quite stifling
emotions...hard to let go.of. yes, I despise arrogance...gotten
a few similar comments like that as well. take care, dear friend xo :)))