Collar 'round my neck

Battling, but ne'er the master of the game

Lucifer, the fallen angel. 5 April 2008. From “The Mind of James Donahue", author James Donahue. Licensed through Wikimedia Commons.  Image available at commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucifer3.jpg

 

 

Collar 'round my neck

...at the organ-grinder's wrist

Imprisoned by my finite mind
I struggle hard, but with eyes blind
My thoughts are black--
With woe aligned...

 

   Collar 'round my neck,
   at the organ-grinder's wrist!

 

Grapple, I, with world around me
Befouled heart and soul o'erwhelm me
How spirit yearns

Rise--Break free...

 

   Collar 'round my neck,
   at the organ-grinder's wrist!

 

And still cry, I, in agony!

Oh, live my dreams out peacefully
Yet I'm doomed--
Unheard my plea...

 

   Collar 'round my neck,
   at the organ-grinder's wrist!

 

But struggle, I, against these odds,
And with whole heart, I rail at gods!
I cannot fail―
Oh what facade!...

 

   Collar 'round my neck,
   at the organ-grinder's wrist!

 

Tell, who set this board I play on?
And with my ending sad, forgone?
Through such cruel rules
I'm cast the pawn...

 

   Collar 'round my neck,
   at the organ-grinder's wrist!

 

 

 

©2008, Richard Puetter

All rights reserved

License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.  The original image can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035655711@N01/255405397. Foxtongue's photostream on Flickr.

Reviews

[emmajoy]

' Who did set this board we play on? .. And why our ending sad--forgone? -- Through cruelest rules -- I'm cast a pawn...'

Not sure we're cast as pawns, but that is how living life makes us feel. We're forever battling with major/minor problems which we think unfair, uncalled-for.. and so often or infrequently - depending on eyes open or half closed, we forget that tis easier to smile than cry. Perhaps?

Your words really pull mind above emotion, meeting somewhere 'up' there to be weighed with both a sensitive hand and a firm one during a lifetime. Who and what we are determines whether ot not we can ignore that collar or tear it away. Perhaps?

Superbly intricate post, a YOU one if ever was.

[The Hampstead Poet]

Yes, the thought of whether or not we ever can truly control our own destinies is a prevalent one in many lives, if it is futile to rail against fate, or whatever greater powers there may be. The struggle of man to live completely free is very well captured in this piece... are we all at the beck and call of the "organ grinder's wrist"? A though provoking read, thanks!

[Latifa]

And how Man cries in agony

to live his dreams out peacefully.
We're doomed to fail--
unheard our plea...

those are the lines that spoke to me the most in this beautiful heart felt piece, as we read it, we can hear your voice of agony and plea, thank you for sharing it with us :)

[Tate Morgan]

We all have our roles dont we. Yet we are constrained by morality guilt ability and drive .We are the fodder that gets ground in the mill by the few who treasure themselves above all else

[Ravyne Hawke]

Oh yes, a pawn.. always sent first in battle. I love the darkness of this piece, the woe and mourn of a free life.. being trapped in a life not of our making.. to always be the pawn. Wonderful repetition of

Collar 'round my neck,
at the organ-grinder's wrist!

Like trained monkeys we dance and perform for our masters, always seeking more.

[Marie]

This implies predestination and ordained failure. Yet it was also ordained that humans must struggle against it...a sad and vicious circle...

[Rick Puetter]

Thanks, Marie, for your review. I think that spirit of Man rails against failure whether preordained or not. And I further think that his aspirations always surpass his reach. So in some sense he is also doomed to fail whether preordained or not. So no matter what I think there is frustration and disappointment in life and that is tragic. And yes, I agree that this is a viscous cycle. Thanks for your crystal clear insight into the poem.

Best regards,

Rick

[Vital Signs 13]

"we're doomed to fail,
unheard our plea..."
This is a wonderful read. That line is so powerful. At first I didn't see how this had anything to do with the contest but now I do :) Thank you for the insight. This is stunning.

[JENY]

The underlying theme between this poem and my poem IN THE PRISON are same….
It seems so….
So this feeling is more or less universal…..
On who transcend it….
Gains real freedom….inner freedom….
Rick…I liked the way you expressed your thoughts very much…
A great work….

[Adela Muresan]

Wow.
I like this; it's so intense, true and � cruel.
The picture you selected is perfect for it.

A.M.

[The Autumn Faerie]

It's the message of this piece I find most striking, and it was the the title that first sparked my interest...

This is a piece, with which I can very much relate. Lately, it seems, I'm finding myself struggling more and more with my beliefs-- and with my past, while also struggling to figure out what I want in the future, though piece is much less about such trivial things...

A friend of mine and I often talk of how the Fates "toy" with us, and these lines are rather apropos:

Who did'st set this board we play on?
Why the ending sad and forgone?
Through cruel rules
I'm cast a pawn...

Yes, I can most certainly relate to such lines...

Wonderful, wonderful write, my friend!
Raye