Nostalgic Illusions
Unspooling the past
I stand in a shiny
Halo glow
The reminiscence
Of myself
The me I thought
Must exist
Time lost
In the space
between
M ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤandㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ E
Nostalgia
A great ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤgapingㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ void
Haunting my heart
Until my mind
Ceases its bellowing
Extending beyond the tape
An inert cellophane
t rㅤ ㅤ ㅤeㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤaㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤdㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤmㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤiㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤlㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤl
Flinging me
To my knees
Like an infant
Not yet reached
Pㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤeㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤrㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤcㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤeㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤpㅤ ㅤ ㅤt ㅤuㅤㅤㅤㅤa lㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤdㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤeㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤpㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤtㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤhㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤs
I kneel, hobbled
On the precipice of
Revelation
Disabled by my lack of
Insight
No rewinding
Reality’s been gobbled up
By an electromagnetic
Beast
The crackle and static
Invading
My dreams
Of a better life
Stranded on an
Invisible island of
Silence
K.B. Silver
If you have never used an audio cassette tape, the visuals of this poem may not come across fully. Because of how my brain connects, sometimes a poem can be a mish-mosh of concepts.
This poem takes the imagery of an audio cassette tape and how it works, with the bits of clear leader tape that are empty of information, and incorporates themes of early childhood development.
The concept that an infant develops depth perception and isn’t born with it is woven in. Due to my vision impairment, I never fully developed depth perception. Because of this, optical illusions have always fascinated me. Some still work on me, and some don’t at all, depending on which part of the brain or eyes is being utilized.
The letters in Treadmill, for example, are all the same size, but increasing the spacing between them creates the illusion that they are growing in size. Or consider the phrase perceptual depths. The letters are all the same size and positioned flat on the page, but again, by adjusting the spacing, the illusion of depth can be created.
Of course, as most of my poems are, it is also a reflection on my memory loss and recovery.
P.S. I just viewed this on my Apple laptop and saw the empty spaces don't traslate on here. Sorry if the format isn't coming across for you.
About the Creator
K.B. Silver
K.B. Silver has poems published in magazine Wishbone Words, and lit journals: Sheepshead Review, New Note Poetry, Twisted Vine, Avant Appa[achia, Plants and Poetry, recordings in Stanza Cannon, and pieces in Wingless Dreamer anthologies.
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CH 20~ Party Down
Argento’s ninth (eighteenth in earth years) Birthday came and went Thursday, the thirteenth, and he’d already received his father’s gift, if you could call it that. You had to commit a fairly serious infraction to be cut off; the Arch-Baron was keeping up appearances and maintaining his own reputation as much as any sense of love or attachment to Argento with his “gift.”
By K.B. Silver Exclusive • 3 days ago
Comments (3)
This is so well crafted! And your spacing came through picture-perfect! How did you DO that? Incredible! It really adds depth and tactile strength to the poem. i grew up in the age of cassettes and the formidable 8-track tapes. I get it all, and appreciate you for writing and sharing so freely, K.B.
How did memory loss happen?
Love it