Conundrum Boulevard (2004-2005)

The stage is set;

  The audience is yours;

They’re all here to see the star.

  Show them all how badly you want to see your name in lights. 

  Underneath the smile,

    you’re nervously mapping out

  the next move,

    and secretly thankful

  that it’s finally over with.

            Refrain:

     Welcome, everyone,

     to Conundrum Boulevard...

     Take your place upon the Walk of Fame.

 

Now you’re looking back at the years you spent

  and all the times you made us forget

that there is more to life

  than what appears in black and white

 

  And underneath the smile,

    you know you’re no more

  than a sword in stone

    and secretly thankful

  your years are finally fulfilled--

                                  But filled with what?

Do you have anything to say for yourself?

  Anything other than hand me down prose?

Is there anything left;

  other than commercialized aspect ratio?

Reviews

[Kathy Van Kurin]

'Conundrum boulevard'
Wesley L. Dingler,
Outward people are like signs posted by the road. When we look behind them their is nothing; no flesh and blood, no life and struggle. None of us really totally know each other inside out. We are precious and it takes much time to become acquainted This poem is reminiscent of .the temptation to not try to hard to love, give and share with one another. Anyway I found this a good thinking poem. My favorite kind.
Blessings,
Kathy

[Wesley Dingler]

Thanks so much Kathy. I wrote this when I was eighteen and on this anti Hollywood BS kick. I thought it was elegant enough, however negative, to have a solid place in my catalogue

Thanks again



Wes

[Kathy Van Kurin]

How nice to have a glimpse into your feelings at this time. I really enjoyed it. Honest thoughts are so good.
Kathy

[Fairy Khan]

Yet another great piece of work. Keep writing.

[Wesley Dingler]

Thanks, my friend. I'm always writing. Sometimes I have to stop writing long enough to remember to breathe.
I'll keep churning--That's a promise.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I can see the Hollywood thing...but i like your work because it is universal and a reader can relate in different ways...I saw a poet who has sold out to please the masses...when that which was unique to him or her was not getting enough views and reviews....enough attention period...I wonder how many famous poets had totally different voices at one time...and let those slip away in order to appeal to those masses..
and the commercialized aspect ratio also makes me think of how great Elton John was in his early days...and then how much of his music became commercialized...Billy Joel as well...
thoughtful piece...
j.

[Wesley Dingler]

I very very much agree.
I cant say ive ever moved to please anyone in any of my poetry other than myself. Of course im always happy when people enjoy it but that is incidental as it was pleasing to me and that was the goal.
I think that about a lot of people in the business. Some of them i know had better voices and now know it wasnt the changing tide within themself that changed them. Instead it was either greed or desperation. But when this does happen and i see it for what it is i still somehow cherish their old voice. Really it was their only voice. What comes after is not their own.

[Coyote Poetry]

The underlining of life, we appreciate too late.
"Now you’re looking back at the years you spent
and all the times you made us forget
that there is more to life
than what appears in black and white"
The above lines. A lesson we shall learn. Black and white memories fall together. Thank you Wesley for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote

[Lanny]

This poem is filled with purposeful angst contrasted against satisfaction's constraints. I enjoyed reading it, and the lines, "And underneath the smile you know you're no more than a sword in stone" are well crafted for effect as is the ending question, "is there anything left; other than commercialized aspect ratio."

Nicely done, and all the best,

Lanny

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

Great reflective poem. I loved the first two quatrains especially as they made me think of someone I know who is attempting to become an actress. You certainly make people ponder the true meaning of life.

This is such an expressive poem. :-)

[Wesley Dingler]

Thank you, Tamara. I'm always delighted when I've made someone stop and think... About anything really.

[Tamara Beryl Latham]

You're welcome!