Poet's Guilt
The old poet knelt, whispered words of prayer and despair.
His tinseled sins were his own, but his words his only hope that he would live beyond that approaching edge.
Guilt was a trillion trouble-birds pecking away at the last strand of his connection.
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This guilt-ridden, but fictional Quadrille is my random take on the word "Tinsel" suggested by Santa's elves over at DVerse.
I would love to know what you thought about this piece.
Please consider leaving a comment.
Mmm, guilt is such a strong emotion to wrangle with. It's even harder when it consumes you and all you think about is the worst. I love, love, love how you address that in this poem and how it creates a sequestered environment for this narrator. The hardest thing about guilt is how we can't let it go and it can push people over the edge. It's saddening.
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly and beautifully penned with respect.
Guilt is such a heavy burden that can weighed you down, even if the actual sins may or may not be that despairing. May be asking for forgiveness may ease the guilt. Good one !
ReplyDeleteChristopher, you have a great handle on guilt and its deteriorating effects upon those who feel it. Poe's, "Tell-Tale Heart" is a good example, but he actually killed someone! A quote from a book I read not long ago comes to mind:
ReplyDelete“And when he stared at the sum total of his crimes on the screen, it seemed to him that they didn't amount to a whole lot. He hadn't killed anyone. He looked again: there must be something missing. Nope. He'd done twenty years for crimes he hadn't committed.”
― Nick Hornby, Juliet, Naked
I say pull out those guilt tapes every once in awhile and examine them. The you of then, when your perceived crimes happened, isn't the you of now. Thank you for spurring me to comment.
Hoping my comment sticks this time...hmm
ReplyDeleteThe imagery is divine, especially "a trillion trouble-birds pecking." Wow. Guilt can be that powerful ...if we let it.
I agree with Mish. That phrase, ""a trillion trouble-birds pecking.," is priceless: guilt is the price we pay for sins, but better to have it and pray for forgiveness and release from despair than not have it and continue in our sins.
ReplyDeletePax,
Dora
Pretty intense, Chris... you have quite an imagination.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
David [ben Alexander]
There's a lot we can step away from, but, um, guilt...no.
ReplyDeleteGuilt is such a strong emotion... alas it is not those deserving it most that suffer the worst.
ReplyDelete