The voices ring in my ear
The ordinary madness he wrote
Sits on the shelf
Unread for many years now
I cautiously glance in the mirror
Face pale and pasty
Limbs obscured by knots and maps
Time gone by
She rolls over
The scent of her hair brushes my face
We are one but separate
Revelling in untold dreams
Casting shadows over sleepless nights
Time tick-tocks on Hatter’s pocket watch
We saw him
Chasing powder
Downing Rabbit
Hunting the comfort of night
His belt a ring of unspent bullets
His hat a little askew
Really quite extraordinary she giggles and burps
I count the losses on my fingertips
The voices ring in my ear
The ordinary madness he wrote
Sits on the shelf
Unread for many years now.
The opening lines are quite extraordinary Jae!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Thotpurge
Delete'Time tick-tocks on Hatter’s pocket watch' And what happens in between. I also like the reference to Bukowski's book to indicate the weird and wild in common, ordinary life. "Revelling in untold dreams / Casting shadows over sleepless nights" are my favorite lines.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sumana
DeleteTime hurts, we think we have plenty but there is never enough. What beautiful description you have in this piece Jae on almost every line. Naturally my favourite is "The scent of her brushes my face". I might steal that one from you for one of my romantic pieces.
ReplyDeleteThank you Old Egg
DeleteMaybe an ordinary madness is the least dangerous kind?
ReplyDeleteMaybe so - thanks Magical
Delete"Hunting the comfort of night
ReplyDeleteHis belt a ring of unspent bullets"
Luv the personification here. Madness is the hunter yet, one of his prey slips away unscathed. This is intriguing
Much love...
Thank you for your insight Gillena
DeleteI love how you begin and end with the same haunting lines. Ordinary madness.....an intriguing concept, causing me to reflect that not many of us escape having at least a touch of it from time to time.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sherrry xo
DeleteI think I should like to read "Tales of Ordinary Madness". It sounds intriguing. I suspect we all engage in a bit of it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Indybev
DeleteIt is summer again, time to read what sits on the shelf unread for so many years. Time to go to the beach, listen to the waves and read! Love this poem, "ordinary maddness", what else my love....but really, Rabbit, isn't it extraordinary after all. What time is it? If only there was more time, more numbers on your watch, to read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Annell you and Rabbit are the best friends xo
DeleteAh yes, beautiful piece. And I'd love to read that [extraordinary] madness he wrote sitting on your shelf. Brilliant write!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Khaya
Deleteincredible.
ReplyDeleteThe voices ring in my ear
ReplyDeleteThe ordinary madness he wrote
Sits on the shelf
Unread for many years now.
Beautifully haunting, Jae!
Thank you very much Sanaa
Delete...but back then... I wish I could type more, but now I too find myself on the shelf.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can hop off that shelf too Martin - thank you
DeleteGreat poem. I guess it's time to read the madness again.
ReplyDeleteMaybe so thank you Rob
DeleteA beautifully realised poem, Jae. I like the revelling in untold dreams.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Rosemary
Deletewonderfully put
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheilagh
DeleteI believe that each of our lives, can easily be seen as a tale of ordinary madness, and many of us read because we need to know we are not alone in our extraordinary way of being. Thanks for this one, filled with your wonderful insights,
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
Thanks so much Elizabeth
DeleteI enjoyed the way this came full circle.
ReplyDelete