The Man of Stone

--a collaboration between the delightful and talented Jola Stoklova and Mark Teague.

 

The Man of Stone (Posag) 

While walking through the Park,
A little before dark,
I came upon a Statue that I'd seen on other walks.

I swore, upon its cheek
A tear began to leak
And in my mind, the Man began to talk!

"Once I, like you, was free
To stroll beneath the trees
And laugh, and love, and live a hundred Joys."

"But in my heart I chose
To have no part of those,
To not be like those other girls and boys!"

"So cold had grown my heart,
I could not let love start--
Then one day I woke, and I was made of stone!"

"I'd lost my final chance
To live, to laugh, to dance--
And was fated now to spend my days alone!"

"Now, I see you every day
You chance to pass this way,
Ever alone, without a friend or beau,

"I hope to make you see
That what happened to me
Is NOT the way you want your life to go!"

And now my eyes are red
At the things that Statue said;
He has shown me what I needed to replace!

Now, no more solo walking
I seek rather friends, and talking
Since I saw that tear upon that Statue's face!

jola stoklova, mark teague
October 23, 2009

© 2009 Jola

 

Author's Note

Another of the collaborative efforts between Jola and myself. When I first encountered her, it was apparent that she relied heavily (if not entirely) upon a computerized translator, which was utterly inadequate to render poetry, with its inferences and subtle nuances. I offered to reconstruct her poetry, so that the American reader might be exposed to her gentle soul and expressive writing. What do you think of our efforts?

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Mark,

An interesting piece with unusual rhyme scheme and meter. Very adventuresome and very well executed. This was greatly enjoyed. Wonderful message as well.

All the best, my friend, and I greatly enjoyed meeting your mother, brother, and friends and family today. You have a wonderful gift for writing and a wonderful circle of friends and family. Drink it up, my friend. Drink it up to the last drop as it is pure nectar and there is nothing better in this world.

All the best,

Rick

[An owl on the moon]

This is a beautiful dance of two voices... the music of which sings of friendship, and light and love... A wondrous awakening to the world and shared shadows that walk side by side in even the darkest paths. Bravo you two!

[Ruth]

This is elegance at its best love! A charming piece of writing that blends so well :) I am blessed to have read this today....sublime!
xx

[emmajoy]

This is such a beautiful collaboration, the essence of the words has stayed put in the most charming yet profound way because dear Jola's thoughts sing out! Your willingness to help her is so kind and also, displays your own great ability to use words in the finest way.

It's happened too often to too many, ' "So cold had grown my heart, ~ I could not let love start-- Then one day I woke, and I was made of stone!"

[Veronica Chandler]

I am moved by this collaboration and in awe of the efforts to help another with the magical process of communicating ideas in another language no less. One of the best ways I know of to learn something is to teach what I know about it. The idea talking and friendship illuminated by the poem must be what was experienced by the two of you in this collaboration. I see the closing, "Now, no more solo walking I seek rather friends, and talking Since I saw that tear upon that Statue's face!" as symbolic of what the mutual experience must have been like. I can only imagine. Lovely

[KAREN]

This was sad, but it helped a man to realize that friendship and talking to others is the way to live. Interesting read and well written between all of you!

[Samuel Dickens]

This collaboration worked out really well and in addition rhyming, makes perfect sense, also. A friend of mine who must be comprised of about 90% granite by now needs to see this.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I love this poem. The sentimentality, the loss of one serving as a lesson to another, and the resolution at the end --- all superb!

Linda Marie

[roarke]

This work does flow much better than a computer translator can render. This poem is as you describe, gentle and expressive. Isn't it said, you can talk to inanimate things but it's when they answer you back is the time to worry? lol Wise words about life the collaboration is a success in my view.