It's a binary world, I think
Musing on a torn magazine corner
Fighting hard to fit a few words on the white border
And keeping the car in the middle of the lane same time.
Someone honks angrily,
He is right, I pull back
And smile apologetically
Returning to my undecipherable scribble.
This was planned originally to be a binary world,
Man, woman,
Night, day,
Black, white...
Then someone up there got bored with the simplicity of it
And started adding grey levels,
Lover,
Morning,
Brown, blue, green...
What a mess...
I overtake a car,
He driving, she reading,
Samson and Delilah,
Romeo and Juliet,
Lady and the Tramp...
I smile,
Pairs nailed in our subconsciousness
Imposing their presence yet giving in to those shades of grey painting our lives,
Treason,
Death,
Italian serenade...
Phone call
Forcing me to lift my right eye from the piece of paper
Thus saving me for the umpteenth time from an unpleasant meeting with a lamp post.
Words,
Paired by human genius
Passed on to us through generations,
Love and hate,
Crime and punishment,
War and peace...
I stop, I hesitate,
Is it the truck to my right turning on its left blinker
Or my mind
In the sudden squeeze of a giant fist
Before I dare write down...
Pain and acceptance...
I turn right,
Another twenty miles to the safety of a parking place,
Philosophy on wheels
I smile to myself
Though I don't feel like smiling.
Pain and acceptance.
Religion has its saints,
Nation its heroes,
Love its lovers.
I park. Finally safe.
Hungry for love.
I hang back in the car before going up to the office,
My mind playing tricks with my memory
Changing sequences,
Clinging to departing crumbs of fading visions
That seconds earlier filled my field of view
With such rich displays of dance and color.
Finally I retain just words,
Just two,
Words,
Pain and acceptance...
Words...
You rhymed... "if pain my reason swept
Demented quiet I accept
Just promise me, to soothe my soul
My whole..."
You sighed... "when pain upon me crept
My hell with passion I accept
Just promise me, to be my twin
In sin..."
You smiled... "of pain I am adept
And riving torture I accept
Just promise me, at end of day
You stay..."
Someone knocking on the window... are you ok? he asks.
I shiver back to reality with a vague look on my face,
Thank him with an embarrassed blush creeping into my cheeks
And turn off the motor.
I forgot even to turn it off... where was I visiting last minutes?...
"Oh, woman, your dementing pain
I wish to sweep like storming rain
And for your shard of aching soul
To give my whole..."
"Oh, maiden, long your hellish pain
A raging passion creeps insane
I pray my heart your torment's twin
And drink your sin..."
"Oh, lover, torture's riving pain
The adept lover's hungry bane
Pour down my throat till end of day
You see... I stay..."
The door clicks shut. I lock it.
I hear your rhyme,
I hear your sigh.
I hear your smile.
Sorry my love,
Told you that my memory is fallen prey to my mind's games,
Can't remember everything, I am mixed up...
Hear me smile?...
Hear me smile?...
Hear me smile?...
Author notes
Written January 21st, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- The Flow by bookdragon.
300 points, ended November 8, 2005, 7 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Driving (prewrites welcome) by Danna Hobart.
490 points, ended January 13, 21 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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An impressive stream of consciousness write. Thank you for entering.
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Thanks for entering!
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thank you, genielassie, for your nice words
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Hey, this sounds like a day in my mind! I love it
. This shows a lot of creativity, word play, thought; and of course, the touch of a poetic hand. Very well written. Best wishes and 
s
~genielassie~ -
the answer if of course... 1 or 0
pity they don't have a sign here for "don't care", lol, thank you for stopping by my friend.
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01100111011011110110111101100100
iv seen this poem on another poets page... Green... is that you? or did you two write this together? but anyways..... 001000010101010001101000011001010010000101110000011011110110010101101101001000010111011101100001011100110010000101100111011011110110111101100100 00100001 -
jessica my friend of so many months now, thank you so much for your beautiful words
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Wow, you have written such a wonderful piece. It defines pieces of our life so well and holds a deeper meaning. Very beautiful piece, you took my breath away
~~Jessica
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myra, myra, myra my beloved poet and friend... but of course you CAN, else i would feel forgotten and lonely thank you so much dear beautiful poetess... yes, she is one LOVED lady
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my dear beloved friend and sister in creation, you write so much more beautiful poems, yet... i love so much your appreciation and soft praise, thank you for seeing so deeply into my love and soul... you are a beautiful friend nicolette, beautiful and sincere...
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Incredibly sensual
... I just CANNOT fall in love with every single Poet on this site! Do not DO this to me, Joe ... Sigh. I cannot think of ONE coherent thing to say ... but kissing the sky.
She is one lucky lady -- indeed.
Myra -
Beautiful, beutiful, beautiful!
Oh dear lord, Joe...this is something special. I hear your smiles through the tears..this poem just blew me away in all its shades of grey! Had to smile at the driving and writing (sounds familiar, very familiar, my friend), but never have I written anything of this beauty and depth and powerful emotions while driving - or could I ever! I just loved the rhyming stanzas inbetween - the memories, the prayers, the promises amongst the reality of a working day. Yes, you'll stay and smile and this poem will stay with me too. And now my words have left me and I can only smile with you Beautiful, beautiful poem!
~ Nicolette
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dear tears, i am not one of a kind yet, yes, love to me is all consuming. thank you my friend
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such a comment from such a poet... you make me one happy writer... thank you luckygirl
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for beauty.....
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Joe this is like a snapshot from your life and from that huge heart of yours.Love, to you,is all consuming.You are one of a kind.
keep penning
tears
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Incredible! Truly incredible.
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and I hear your smile.Beauty as always, from beauty
Billie jean
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