Flowers Set on Tables: Chapter One (of 4)A Story by Paris HladFlowers
Set on Tables An
Ambivalent Take On
the Multitude[1] -By
Charles E. Tenenbaum- -CHAPTER
1- And
I saw that flowers were set on tables In
the Great Hall, according to my wishes. And
I was pleased to see that those I favor Were
among those that were chosen - Some
that were pleasant to look upon, To
smell, and to touch with my hand - But
others that pleased me Inwardly And
deeply. So,
I thanked my servants For
having satisfied my wishes, Though
I knew from the beginning, (As they
knew from the beginning) That
my hopes would be fulfilled. And
I rejoiced in the knowledge That
I had blessed my servants In
all the ways that Would
please them; And
that my servants Had
received my love With
the satisfaction Of
having pleased me. So,
I left the sanctuary of the Great Hall To
walk among the multitude, Confident
that my servants Were
happy in my love, And
I, in their love. Yet
I could not keep pace with the many, As I
feared where they would lead me. For
the multitude was Indifferent
to my fellowship, And
pressed hard against me, Which
caused me to stumble And,
at length, to heavily fall. But
each time that I fell, I rose up And
continued to walk among the many, Not
fearing the press of their shoulders. But
now, a blind man stumbled before me, And
I stumbled in his stumbling, And
others stumbled on me And
mocked the one Who
stumbled Before
me. And
I said to myself, “The
blind man walks as he walks, And
the others walk as they walk.” But
those who stumbled at my heels Overheard
the things that I said And
began to mock me " And
that caused me to stumble once more On
the one who stumbled before me. So,
I turned to look at the faces Of
those who scorned me - That
they might know The
harshness of my eyes, And
the steel of my judgment. But
I saw that those who mocked me, Looked
beyond me when I turned " Oblivious
to the blade before them. So,
I pushed these men aside And
took the arm of the one Who
stumbled before me. And
we spoke of the Great Hall Where
flowers are set on tables. [1]
“Flowers Set on Tables” may best convey the poet’s ambivalence toward humanity.
He said that its mystic narrator is based on his childhood recollections of an
elderly widower and shoe store owner who occasionally came over for dinner and
ping-pong on Sunday afternoons. He described this teacher as “a kind of
other-worldly grandfather, comprised of hilarious insights and reasonably good
intentions.”
© 2023 Paris Hlad |
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Added on May 13, 2023 Last Updated on May 13, 2023 AuthorParis HladSouthport, NC, United States Minor Outlying IslandsAboutI am a 70-year-old retired New York state high school English teacher, living in Southport, NC. more..Writing
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