Metra Sureves

Lockup

Can I compartmentalize

pain, anger, frustration,

into some place

so far removed

from my moment to moment

experience that

it simply withers and dies?

<>

Or does it live in that place,

taking succor

from random morsels

that crawl into its cell

from between

the cracks in the walls?

<>

Does it fester without rotting,

growing stronger in its resolve

while strengthening its form

by pacing and pushing the floor?

<>

Does it plot its revenge?

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The Difference

The difference between…

<>

Identity

And identity politics.

<>

Virtue

And virtue signaling.

<>

Humility

And humiliation.

<>

Is the difference between…

<>

Quiet Respect

And open disdain.

<>

Love

And hate.

<>

Compassion

And condescension.

<>

The difference between the animal and the human

Is the difference between the collective and the individual.

<>

Don’t be afraid to stray.

It won’t always go your way,

But you’ll live to fight another day.

And if you don’t,

Take this consolation:

<>

It doesn’t matter anyway.

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Hermits

The higher we fly

The smaller we seem

To passers-by.

<>

Where Icarus flies

Too close to the sun

We hide in the clouds

Just for fun.

<>

It’s not that we hate people…

We just feel better

When they’re not around.

<>

We evolve to adapt or perish.

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Commentary:

The title of this collection of poems is a riddle.

The first poem deals with the inner struggle.

The second poem deals with the outer struggle.

The third poem proffers a resolution, reshaping tidbits of wisdom from poets past into a remark on the type of individual that becomes the practitioner of the art indicated by the title of this collection of poems.

***** * *****

While pondering this riddle you may want to check out more of my work here at Vocal, or perhaps peruse my experiment in philosophical poetry (or poetic philosophy?) This Tree:

Thank You For Your Time!