I.
Tears, blood and sweat
Flow in an unnamed river
Eddies of voiceless misery
Pull the hapless fisherboy
Down to lonely depths
Where a chained heart
Sighs in the abyss
I pull her wing-feathers
One by one by one
And the laughter dies
In the light of the sun
There is no warmth in September
No warmth at all
Just the cold hands
Of the fortune teller
On her white crystal ball
And I could have followed him
Followed him home
But I chose to roam
With the winds west of the river
Where the earth breaks open
And secretes the pus of disease
The disease called Man.
II.
The song is dead.
They have gone away, the voices.
This is not the time for choices
Or despair
You are simply standing over there,
And I, here.
No longer should we fear.
Angels walking down the avenue
And the skies are blue on a May afternoon
When the rain comes in torrents
And the thunder roars in my ears;
I shall not want to have more years.
Time is but a wasteland,
While we walk the path of our dreams
With our eyes wide shut to the sun.
III.
But,
why run why run why run
shantih shantih shantih
The gypsy's shadow is eclipsed
By the passing crow
And wanderers are lovers
And lovers still are lost
The sea is drying up
Bones of rats and men peeking out
From a bed of sand
Life is
grand
Your withered hands
Reach out from the melting frost
Spring is coming
la la
Spring is dancing
With death stepping on her toes.
Weilala lala lala
weilalei lala lala
And so the story goes...
shantih shantih shantih
+
Inspired by T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland"
Author notes
Inspired by T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland", with lines that may resemble his, though they are mine in this poem.
He was the first poet I've ever encountered, when I was 3 years old. In my childhood, I loved his Book of Practical Cats best. I own only one book of his, over fifty years old since it was printed, and salvaged by the U.S. Navy. It ended up on the shelf of my grandfather's study, perhaps from my uncle who was in the navy.
Written September 25th, 2005
In a list
A contest entry
- A Big Adventure: The Waste Land by cvillelisa.
600 points, ended October 21, 2005, 6 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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I'd rather think, more than a contest, it was an opportunity to show my love for Mr. Eliot. I'm quite fond of his works.
Thank you for your very nice comment. 
I really love it, and it brought color to my day. Cheers to you and your muse!
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This is a very thought provoking piece of work. Although I personally found it a bit deep and heavy going, I read it through and found the words flowed very well.I wish you luck in the contest, this is not an easy one
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Sure. It would be my pleasure.
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I think this one was influenced by my love for his other piece, Prufrock, and also a bit of the mood I picked up from his Coriolan. Haha...maybe this tale could be something like 'the apocalyptic apotheosis of love'. Haha..
Thank you, Carol.
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You speak kind praise, thank you. I liked the Book of Practical Cats when I was little. It's only now that my attentioned turned to his more 'serious' works. Hoho. But Eliot is one of my favorite poets, and I'll always remember him as my first favorite, even before Poe.
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Thank you for stopping by to read and comment nicely.
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good
I really had to think my way through this one, this was an extremely bleak and dreary piece, at time macabre and frighten. But, also intriguing. I think I let this roll in mind a little, it is good but still…
Image and Visions … Dare to dream, and have the courage to do that what others only dream of…
Would you mind dropping by my site and commenting on my meager attempts at writing.
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This was really a great tribute to this poet you remember at age three, excellent and so well done, I thought you have written this so very well and with great heartfelt emotion and love. Wonderful and lovely. Thank you so much for sharing this, I thought this was so kind of you to do.
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very diffrent nice peice i really enjoyed it
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Thank you
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great poem
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Thank you, Lisa. I wish you the best of luck to you and your muse. I think this contest is most unique in many ways--it is very difficult to judge because of the diversity of interpretations of The Waste Land that the entrees offered, among other things. I would have faltered, in your place, with such a daunting task. But, take courage. I trust you will be able to finish this in due time.
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Someone special sent my daughter that same book ..
This is a very beautiful piece. You have a soft way with words and yet they carry the punch of Eliot's message.
I much appreciate your taking the time to contribute to this contest (sorry only that you didn't get more reads .. )
I've been apologizing also to everyone for the length of time it has taken me to judge. Someone suggested upon my asking them to collab on a contest with me that I use this as a theme .. I never anticipated it would cause the Judging Angst it has.
The Waste Land has a place in History and its experience is certainly different and yet the same it seems for so many.
Best poetic wishes to you..
Lisa
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