death of the storyteller

i tell stories 

for a living

 

stories 

i eat and sleep with..

stories i fight with..

stories i flirt with..

 

 

the clientele 

decides 

where i start 

and how i twist..

tears of joy 

or 

sobs of anguish..

 

 

when it is my sister's little daughter

i elaborate on the

newest adventures of dora

or chip in with a word 

about the carpets that could 

fly her outside her classrooms 

midway through a boring lesson

of alphabets and arithmetic..

 

for my dad,

i recreate the desires 

of a life in late grandpa's house 

post retirement ..

 

 

mother needs a story 

where i get married 

to a girl of her  wish 

neatly combed and shaved for the reception

 

for my friend 

i reserve a quarter whiskey 

and 2 packets of cigarette to last the night

rest is censored..

 

i borrow my dad's voice 

when i narrate to my kid brother..

 

.

i tell a story that wouldnt 

make 'her' regret coming to meet me in 

that forlorn park ..

i wear the clown's bonnet 

and commit my little suicides

to make 'her' smile , even if , with scorn.

 

 

then when everyone has slept 

perhaps assuming 

i dont need a tale ,

i search my notebooks

and bookshelves..

 

i fall through staircases

of libraries stuffed with 

bedtime stories...

 

then , 

 

 

when i have no stories to tell...

i look at the abyss 

waiting for me..

halfway through the fall , 

i realise i havent left word..

 

i am lonely when i have no stories to tell

Reviews

[bookworm]

I can relate to this very well. I also feel lonely without stories to tell. You have conveyed that sensation so beautifully here. Your attention to detail is captivating and the flow was spot-on. Favorite line: "I wear the clown's bonnet and commit my little suicides"...brilliant!

I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed when you finished your story....:)

[Emily B]

sometimes I wander up to folks here in the cafe and I say "tell me a story"

sometimes they say 'you don't really need a story'

[Dayran]

The sequel to the stories continues with tales of legends unheard. Fills in the gaps which your story teller left out and brings a new feel to the stories. They are now the stories of the world and of us. Be sure to find out how Athena is actually Saraswathy.
http://www.bartleby.com/bulfinch/