Lockup
Can I compartmentalize
pain, anger, frustration,
into some place
so far removed
from my moment to moment
experience that
it simply withers and dies?
<>
Or does it live in that place,
taking succor
from random morsels
that crawl into its cell
from between
the cracks in the walls?
<>
Does it fester without rotting,
growing stronger in its resolve
while strengthening its form
by pacing and pushing the floor?
<>
Does it plot its revenge?
***** * *****
The Difference
The difference between…
<>
Identity
And identity politics.
<>
Virtue
And virtue signaling.
<>
Humility
And humiliation.
<>
Is the difference between…
<>
Quiet Respect
And open disdain.
<>
Love
And hate.
<>
Compassion
And condescension.
<>
The difference between the animal and the human
Is the difference between the collective and the individual.
<>
Don’t be afraid to stray.
It won’t always go your way,
But you’ll live to fight another day.
And if you don’t,
Take this consolation:
<>
It doesn’t matter anyway.
***** * *****
Hermits
The higher we fly
The smaller we seem
To passers-by.
<>
Where Icarus flies
Too close to the sun
We hide in the clouds
Just for fun.
<>
It’s not that we hate people…
We just feel better
When they’re not around.
<>
We evolve to adapt or perish.
***** * *****
Commentary:
The title of this collection of poems is a riddle.
The first poem deals with the inner struggle.
The second poem deals with the outer struggle.
The third poem proffers a resolution, reshaping tidbits of wisdom from poets past into a remark on the type of individual that becomes the practitioner of the art indicated by the title of this collection of poems.
***** * *****
While pondering this riddle you may want to check out more of my work here at Vocal, or perhaps peruse my experiment in philosophical poetry (or poetic philosophy?) This Tree:
Thank You For Your Time!
About the Creator
C. Rommial Butler
C. Rommial Butler is a writer, musician and philosopher from Indianapolis, IN. His works can be found online through multiple streaming services and booksellers.
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FNORDS
A Battle Worth Fighting Learning, in time, who sent you, did not change how I feel. I Love You anyway, as I always have and always will. Sorrow may be our lot today, but tomorrow—the long tomorrow—brings endless opportunity to rejoice in uniting. And when that day comes, I hope you realize that love is a battle worth fighting.
By C. Rommial Butler3 years ago in Poets
Comments (7)
This is so well written! I love this stanza especially: 'Where Icarus flies Too close to the sun We hide in the clouds Just for fun.'
The birth or measure of innovation, independence, determination, courage, sincerity and activity. (according to a Google search) Marvelously questioned, identified & become.
Wow...I love this. The way you develop it from start to finish. I especially love the questions you raise in the first poem and the opposites in the second and how you closed it all off. As a curiousity, I was trying to work out what the name meant. Nothing came up on Google Translate until I reversed it and Severus Artem is Severe Art. I have no idea if that was what you were going for, but I think it's funny that it fits nonetheless! Well done on this great collection of poems!
I agree with Dharrsheena. To me, this body of work feels like the unfolding of a philosophical chrysalis that merges thought and soul. GREAT poem all around! 😉
For the first poem, I do feel that it plots revenge. It's always better to express thise emotions and feelings rather than bottling it up. However, some people struggle with that and it's so sad. For the second poem, I love how you showed the difference between things that seem to be spelt or said similarly. As for the third poem, we evolve to adapt or perish. I'm kinda stuck in the middle of that two, lol! Loved your poems!
'Sup CR ~ You always seem to 'Riddle-Frustrate' me ~ in a fun way. I'm 'frustrated' that I've just tried to squeeze my old-self into the youngins 'History' category - Could-Maybe be a bad-fit - - Always look forward to your, oftentimes irreverent, 'Schtick - Who me that can so relate - J-Bud
I enjoyed the flow of this honest piece😌