subliminal

our minds are told to "LOOK!"

subliminal

 

far beyond the notes played

and far behind the words,

the soul seeks cleaner pictures,

pinning photos on your mind.

the suggestions on the television

disconnect the dvr, with hidden

mention on the palette,

“to forget them

in due time.”

 

the program and its data coincide with

human thought, remembering what was brought

into the welcome fold, I’m sold…

leaves are trimmed from rusty brain stems

withered on the ground,

the unremarkable was found

to hold no trust or rushed integrity,

why are all the messages encoded with a mark?

a spark of lucid genius is stamped indelible

at the crossing of the mind’s raw intersection

to stop the sullen signals,

go back to what is right

or who is wrong.

 

dan © 2015

Reviews

[rawland]

Where did I just read that one should not give-away what a poem is about by the title they use? If you know please let me know. If not, never-mind. Moving on...Most forms of media today are not designed to actually make us smarter, but just to make us believe we are smarter by believing what they say, and believing that way, too. I just ran across the song, Sweet Smiling Children, on Johnny River's 1967 Rewind album, I was playing (after finally tracking-down a new belt for my turntable), which, in a way, mirrors what you have written about. Here is a link to it, if anyone is interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYtUC6jWBrE

Most things change because someone else, besides us, wants them to. Most things, which never change, never change because someone else doesn't want them to. Somewhere along the line, the individual has been taken out of the equation, or the individual no longer wants to be involved in making a new equation work because it would involve work and too many people now believe the American Dream is to get paid for doing nothing.

Thanks for reminding me of what i used to care about, and now realize, I still do.

Take care,

Rawland

[dan]

Rawland, I titled it 'subliminal' because wasn't what the would first see is a description of the word. I really want people to read it and know that they have to read it again. Then I want them to notice the subtle nuances inserted and the irregular "internal rhymes." I should call this metafiction because I present a story that's really about writing a story. I'm going to check out that you tube link in about 10 minutes. Thanks for the insightful review; you always do it that way, always welcomed. Now I commented one of yours and you commented one of mine. Nice to see you back on a friends list of mine. take care...dan

[Calliope]

What exactly do our minds absorb from the television and other forms of visual entertainment, other than what is presented to us on the surface? I had to ponder this one. Very engaging write, the scattering of phrases like "pinning photos on your mind" throughout the poem grabbed me and didn't let go. Brilliant job, Dan!

[dan]

Calliope, Subliminal advertising happens on TV and in movies, go to Bing Images and seek 'subliminal' you will see examples of how advertisers show you a product, while in the background of the shot you will see a word or picture hidden cleverly, your mind's eye sees this while your real eyes don't. This is for real, not some internet conspiracy theory

[....................]

Dan, your piece got us to look at ourselves and how we interact with all the stimuli in our lives, even though you did not ask us directly to do so. That's what I call subliminal. Great write my friend!

[dan]

Oh no, you've figured me out! Busted by my own words, subliminally. Thank you so much, FT, for your always insightful reviews. Always good to hear from you! take care...dan

[....................]

My pleasure dan!

[~]

Dan,
I like the message of this poem. It was a great creative write, with perfect lines.

we all try to find our way in life, and if we do not look and try to discover, we will not be coming to the right conclusions, choosing the path that we should walk on.

[dan]

And it is so easy to misinterpret the signs, the mile-markers on our journeys...taking the wrong direction due to false positives can alter one's life in a bad way, and subliminal warnings can definitely have such an impact. Thank you for your insights. take care...dan

[Jerome F Knox III pseud..]

I really like this poem that you have penned here. Where shall I begin this review? The opening stanza were brilliant with crisp images and a sound message being delivered loud and clear. The rest of the poem unfold nicely then these great lines come about.

a spark of lucid genius is stamped indelible
at the crossing of the mind’s raw intersection

Message delivered and message received.......

[dan]

Rico, Thank you for your insightful review, and for the 'great lines' observation. I'm glad and appreciative of your comments. take care...dan

[Ana D S M]

I think we get peppered with so many messages that are repeated in a short time that sometimes we just accept it as truth. I briefly studied in a business class the psychology of consumer behaviour. It was very interesting.

[dan]

Lilith, Thanks for your read and interpretation of it. You shed a lot of insightful light on the subject and it's very much appreciated. take care...dan

[Ana D S M]

You're very welcome.