by Steve King
© 2015
and then, you see,
when they came to break your bones
when they came to break your bones
you learned to tell them things
some of it was true I know
but other parts could make no sense at all
I wondered if they knew the difference
wondered at the sounds I made
a chorus of dark music
echoing a distant tongue
much felt like a dream
the darkness
and the sudden light
the inversions
the cold
the darkness
and the hearthless heat
day and night at once
no element of sky or earth
or grace of wakening beyond
the mind left strangely free in flights
to ease hardening bonds
darkness
just as if a dream
where only strangers meet
do no harm I thought
but could not think
I did not think
save for one small thing
there comes that moment when one hopes
that he has finally known it all
will never stir to see another face
he chooses still to name it hope
Agh. I read this as from the mind of someone in a terrible captivity--either on our side - rendition--or the other--though sides don't matter for purposes of the poem-- it is very moving--you do not have the physical details of this captivity and torture (it sounds like) but enough in the dark and light, the nuanced mental description, to make it quite terrifying, haunting, sad--the close in which hope describes both end and, of necessity, continuity is very striking. A breathtaking piece, Steve. Thanks. k.
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ReplyDeleteI liked the poem. I know this may sound trite but I thought the first three staNZAS WERE THE BEST AND REALLY MAKE YOUR POINT. >kb
ReplyDeleteI like how you went from "and when they come to break your bones" to ending with hope, or at least something you could call hope.
ReplyDelete" I wonder if they new the difference" Great question. When someone gives information under duress who knows if its valid... This was a thought provoking write. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteIs there a time where seems totally useless? I think this would be it... break my bones and I'll tell you my life story and give you bank info as well... yikes. Quite thrilling this is, I dig it!
ReplyDeleteSuch intense & vivid images here. Well penned!
ReplyDeleteA powerful diatribe, a paean to pain, to chaos; liked the sinews, the emotional power, but did have a little trouble as you leaped from "one" or "you" to "I". For me the piece works best if it is completely in the first person; stronger, much more focused.
ReplyDeletea journey and a choice - well said.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great opening:
ReplyDelete"and when they come to break your bones
you learn to tell them things"
The opening lines are very eye-catching Steve ~ there is much darkness and light and through it all, I want to cling to that hope in the end ~
ReplyDeleteGrace
Hope in the face of utter darkness... nicely done!
ReplyDeleteThis poem was... dark. But I like the hope at the end, despite the dire situation.
ReplyDeleteWonderful imagery. Light in the darkness.
ReplyDelete"...you learn to tell them things." Indeed! This was wonderfully woven.
ReplyDeleteWill to survive.. snake brain..
ReplyDeletecore to existence.. a
savior even
when Hope
leaves
home..
my greaTest
gift.. the reptile
of my soul..
SURVIVAL..:)
It seems that this piece speaks from a very dark place. Even hope in the end is questioned. A powerful write.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting ascend from darkness to hope - very well done.
ReplyDelete"save for one small thing"---yes! That hope at the end. Very powerful piece.
ReplyDeleteYour opening lines really capture my attention (sorry, very bad pun). Starting there, with so much unknown, going through the this very dark, tortourous place I did not expect to end up with hope. This is a remarkable piece. Your opening and closing lines are stong, grabbing, and I also really like the following:
ReplyDeleteno element of sky or earth
or grace of wakening beyond
the mind left strangely free in flights
to ease hardening bonds
I often wonder about the use of torture as a means of obtaining information and how the person only says what they want to hear just to make them go away. Very interesting poem. Hayes Spencer is Kanzensakura
ReplyDeleteWow. Imagery of Auschwitz, or any pretty much any POW camp are well captured in your words. The last 5 lines really grabbed me:
ReplyDelete"there comes that moment when one hopes
that he has finally known it all
will never stir to see another face
and yet
he chooses still to name it hope"
It is amazing what the body can endure, and yet there must come a moment of teetering between the thought of more torture or final peace. And still that glimmer of hope.
So good to read your writing again, my friend. I have been checking in as I have time to see if there is something new. So glad I checked tonight!
Hey Steve, I was almost afraid to re-visit this one as it is so dark (in the best of ways), but you know what I mean--it leads to thinking of things one tries to blot out sometimes. I was struck this time through at the changes in person--from you to I to one to he--this works very well with the profile of the speaker, the disassociation of self that is described in places and that one imagines. Hope all well (and very far from this.) k.
ReplyDeletePS - I wonder if you have revisited your long poem--? k.
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