Here’s one from the Works-in-Progress File, revised yet again and ready (I think) to be moved to the Almost-There File…
Fourish
He wakes up briefly twice and
both times he’s someone else.
First he’s top-hatted Charlie McCarthy,
the bow-tied and monocled loudmouth,
speedy comebacker to Edgar Bergan’s
rational and baritoned straight lines,
clearly begging for a well-deserved
but always undelivered face slap.
Later, though, he’s older than Edgar
ever thought of being; older than
The Sun King’s scepter, older than
The Sun King or The Sun King’s father;
older, even, than the sun itself, which
does not shine at 4 AM, will not shine
no matter how long he waits in bed.
He goes back to sleep. It’s not quite
four o’clock yet, but suddenly he’s…
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Poets And Storytellers United
Writers Pantry #58
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I love it – and while I like the cliff-hanger ending, and also the open-endedness implied, I still want more! (Which I guess is the point, but….)
Great poem Love it ! My favourite line
“older, even, than the sun itself, which
does not shine at 4 AM, will not shine
no matter how long he waits in bed”
Oh goodness, Ron, that’s too close to home for me! I can fall asleep, but I can’t stay asleep, I drop off and wake up again, and by fourish my body wants to get up, but my brain says no. The dreams in those short periods of sleep are so vivid!
I want to go back to sleep right now and see who I am!
I want to make the last word, which is not there, “inspired.”
I can practically see him, he’s eyes stuck to the ceiling, trying to will the sun to rise already…
Imagine on every awakening to find yourself someone else! Oh (sigh) what a sad story!
Wow. I love this. It’s original, clever and so artistic. Definitely belongs in the almost-finished file. Can’t wait to see the finished one.
Well, it’s true … the best always leave us craving more!
How frustrating it is to wake before the dream ends…or is he still asleep?