A Staged Event

when private is exposed to public...is this a bad thing??

When the wild and the spotless

Converge on life’s bright stage,

The performance is the sacrifice,

The illumination and the footlights.

 

Any juxtaposition of love and hate

Turns klieg lights on the suffering,

Regales the one who undermines

The anticipation of the ones above.

 

As one looks askance at the metaphor

Detailing bewilderment vs. light,

One would ask for it to clarify

The purpose of this fight.

 

And when it comes to pass that

One is loath to even bother with it;

Participation in this staged event is

Designed to help repair the split.

 

Then, gathering all the players

In the footlights of the stage

Helps to recompense so totally

The source of one’s blind rage.

 

dan © 2014

 

Music: "One Stage Before," by Al Stewart

Author's Note

Reviews

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

Wonderful structure & flow here with you reflection on the scenes you have envisioned and formed through your words.
The end ties back to what is before mentioned.
Nice work!

[dan]

Josie, I certainly appreciate your taking the time to review my write. I am glad you saw my intent with the structure and wording. Thanks again! take care...dan

[Josie E. Cook M. A.]

You are welcome! :)

[Siobahn McKenna]

This immediately brought to mind Hamlet! Not in a plagiarising way or anything, just how most of life seems so staged; most conversations and interactions. It makes me think of God when you talk about light vs. detailed bewilderment. And then the next stanza seems to be about death and when we finally get there many elderly people no longer care. Their lives are just over. It's a very interesting read and I really enjoyed it. I could probably read it over and over again and continue to find deeper meaning (with respect to my own interpretation and not, potentially, your initial meaning. Thanks for sharing.

[dan]

Siobahn, Never been compared to Shakespeare before! Life can be seemingly be played out dramatically, with characters and richly decorated props calling us to mind other characters in our lives. Actually thought of celebrities and other public figures being called out for scandalous incidents in their private lives, drama revisited...I just got out of the hospital and it's hard to string thoughts together now. I am glad, however, to see that my little write brought some enjoyment to your day. Thank you so much! take care...dan

[Adam W Redmon]

Hey dan, This poem took me pretty far back I was actually thinking of a concept rather similar to this earlier today.
I did alot of acting on stage during high school, I Really enjoy the line "The performance is the sacrifice"
Very fine, sir ^-^

[dan]

Adam, This was actually told abstractly of incidents in which a public figure with a clean-cut image is revealed to have a scandalous skeleton in their closet. Perhaps written TOO abstractly? I appreciate all interpretations and thank you for sharing your thoughts. take care...dan

[Adam W Redmon]

I believe that's the thing I enjoy (And sometimes hate) The most about poetry is I don't think anyone ever reads one piece of poetry the same way.
Now that you mention it I can see the abstractionism now though.
This poem reminded me of being on stage.
I feel Foo Fighters says this best for me, "The voice upon the stage. Is the heart inside the cage." from their song "Congregation"

[dan]

Adam, Actually the thing I like MOST about sharing my writing is how many different interpretations the piece receives. If I write a piece and I get 10 totally different viewpoints relayed to me I consider that piece a success. I am by no means an expert in fine art but the same applies when people view a piece of fine art, especially the abstract variety. Each person sees what THEY interpret, which may be 100% different than what the artist intended.
And just for your information, I believe Dave Grohl is one of the most talented visionaries of his generation in rock music. Beginning with his work in Nirvana and extending through the Foo Fighters and his various side projects...excellent! To even have his work quoted in a review of my writing is an honor! Thanks so much for your review and subsequent remarks. take care...dan

[E G TEN]

I believe every writers shared thought is of a public affairs, unless of course it is done privately.
Metaphorically speaking just delays or concealed the facts and the truth to the public eyes.
You've written quite a stage here Dan very cool. Thanks EG

[dan]

EG, I wrote abstractly of how celebs with clean cut images have scandalous revelations in their lives sully their reputations, now in the public eye for a very different reason. A subplot is that we are all actors on the stage of life...so it can happen to us also. But your interpretation is also spot on, which is why I like to share my writings...all interpretations are correct in my eyes. Than you for sharing yours! take care...dan

[Taylor]

You've provided quite a discourse on "life is a stage." The various images -- manipulation of two parties to bring them together for the purpose of reconciliation, only to widen the split, for example--sent my mind spinning to scenes from my own life. Methinks that is a noble achievement.

[dan]

Taylor, Thank you so much for your review and interpretation of my write. I meant it to read like a story of how celebrities with clean cut images are revealed to have scandalous revelations about their lives come to surface, total loss of privacy. Yes, cut from similar cloth as "all the world's a stage." Thanks again for the review. take care...dan

[Nisreen]

Sometimes some events that are meant to bring people together only tear them apart. .... maybe the idea is if something is done for audience it seldom holds meaning anymore or loses intent somewhere in between
So are we gathered left to be divided
Or divided in our own gatherings

Thought provoking piece

[dan]

Nisreen, That's a very interesting interpretation...the main thing I like about writing is that it lends itself to so many different viewpoints, all of them correct. Thank you for the great review. take care...dan

[...]

I would never want the spotlight on me. A life without privacy would make me an evil person, I'm afraid. The price of fame is having no life at all and having every fart, every bad hair day, every break-up r break-out judged. Not sure if this is what you were saying in this piece, Dan, but it's where my mind went with it. You always write with such skill and depth, my friend. Great read :)

[dan]

lynn, You really made some great observations on this piece. I actually got the idea of celebrities who have such a clean-cut image, then all of a sudden a piece of their private life is revealed, resulting in a scandal. That was the idea. But I kind of rounded it off to include everyone who would like their private feelings to be kept private; when secrets are revealed it can result in a lot of hurt and/or shame.
Thank you so much for the perceptive review, always appreciated! take care...dan

[Insight "MH"]

In my humble opinion, a poet needs to write bits of his personal feelings and opinions in the poem, cause a poem without that being done, will not have a soul.

[dan]

Thank you, because this poem is all about my feelings and thoughts. The original idea was about celebrities get things from their personal lives revealed and then are scandal ridden when these things are made public. My thoughts on such circus acts were the basis for this write. take care...dan

[Insight "MH"]

You are welcome.

[dan]

I'm sorry my write did not have a soul...dan

[Insight "MH"]

Not at all, it does have a soul, I only read the poem in my own way, interpreting the meaning from another angle ^_^

[Ruth]

"The performance is the sacrifice"...a most compelling line to me throughout this...be it whatever performance, something is always sacrificed in such...be it a poem...music...a thought or being open...being open/public isn't always a bad thing I would say...sometimes ghosts need a dash of light to shrink and become mute :) Blessings Dan...

[dan]

Poppy, thank you once again for your intuitive review. I had in mind a celebrity revealed in a scandalous light, bare truths revealed to all. I always appreciate your feedback. take care...dan

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the poem. I tell people. Leave the bad days bury and forgotten.
"And when it comes to pass that
One is loath to even bother with it;
Participation in this staged event is
Designed to help repair the split."
Old places and faces don't make us feel better. Reunion of old faces and memories. Staged events and finding out. Can't repair the past. Just leave them far behind. I liked this poem my friend. Made me think this early morning. Thank you Dan for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[dan]

Thanks John for your thoughtful review. Now I'm heading to your page to return the favor. I always appreciate your input. Thanks again. take care...dan

[Coyote Poetry]

I'm just finishing my stories. I have three stories to finish this week. I'm on vacation. If I find time. A deep edit and you are welcome.

[dan]

Want to hear something funny? I just checked out your pictures, and you look a lot like my brother. Thank you for your military service; I too am a veteran. 6 years in the Navy. Enjoy your vacation. take care...dan