Some poets are fond of conjuring ghosts and specters Their verses tell of spirits that rise from the long dead past to haunt our days, reminding us of our sins and all the past has taken away ancient ghosts whose shadows follow us, ghosts with claws that grab at us and hold us fast in their sickly embrace but I do not listen and I am not afraid of such things However, I do fear the landlord who would evict me from my room and the bully boys who beat me for a dollar and the policeman who vows he’ll protect me for two and the car salesman who sold me a lemon So I ask of the Poets: Make ghosts of such as these and I will recite your verses in the town square and gladly buy your books.
Nice poem Paul! I like the cadence and imagery. I’d like to say I’m where this poem is, but I’m still working through some things in my past that read their heads today. It’s almost as real as if an eviction is happening today, a past experience is still happening today.
I like this so much, Paul. Ghosts don’t frighten me - unless they remind me of what was promised. (Your car salesman, or that executive who didn’t give me a raise for something i wouldn’t do.) if only poets wrote sometimes about those…
Very powerful. The idea that artists, painters or writers, should always speak their truth through a talent that brings notoriety to their abilities/gifts resonates. Taking it even further to use that gift speak truths of the world/power resonates even stronger with me. Everyone's haunted by their own ghost, some more tangible than others.
This poem I like. It is interesting reading. there are two fears in this: the fear of what the poet does, and this other fear from those other things mentioned in the poet. The speaker at the end is on the side of the poet. Good read!
Still, quite eye popping and beautiful. Even AI images have to be chosen or programmed by someone with an eye taste and beauty so don’t give all the credit away. ☺️
Thank you for the restack, @April Whalley!
Thanks to @An K. for the restack-I’m grateful.
My Thanks to @Dave pearen for this restack.
Nice poem Paul! I like the cadence and imagery. I’d like to say I’m where this poem is, but I’m still working through some things in my past that read their heads today. It’s almost as real as if an eviction is happening today, a past experience is still happening today.
Thank you, Brian. I understand. I like to think I've made peace with my past, as well, but, as you know, stuff happens!
Nothing wrong with some aspirational writing!
Nothing at all, Brian.
I like this so much, Paul. Ghosts don’t frighten me - unless they remind me of what was promised. (Your car salesman, or that executive who didn’t give me a raise for something i wouldn’t do.) if only poets wrote sometimes about those…
Thank you, Patris. I think you got the gist of what the poem is trying to say.
Now that is Deep
Precisely. I do believe in psychopaths. 🍻
The landlord may come anytime now,
screaming in my fragile ears,
for money this and that and evictions
out of this soiled room,
for bills to pay,
yelling red for my subsistence to desist
as I do the dishes and jump in fright at the doorbell:
and my music playing
who can it be now?
Exactly, Hervo! Thank you for reading and commenting!
I do fear real life than fiction because it is definitely much more cruel but it is also beautiful. There is some kind of unspoken balance to it.
Lovely poem Paul as always.
Thank you, Ika. You’re correct, of course: reality is capable of much more terror than ghosts, but also provided much more in the way of beauty.
Very moving. It hit home again. 🦕
Thanks for reading and commenting, Wendy.
Very powerful. The idea that artists, painters or writers, should always speak their truth through a talent that brings notoriety to their abilities/gifts resonates. Taking it even further to use that gift speak truths of the world/power resonates even stronger with me. Everyone's haunted by their own ghost, some more tangible than others.
Yep most of the time, the living are the ones we have to worry about. But not always. The pissed off dead can be trouble too.
This poem I like. It is interesting reading. there are two fears in this: the fear of what the poet does, and this other fear from those other things mentioned in the poet. The speaker at the end is on the side of the poet. Good read!
Yes, Luis, the speaker is with the poet at the end. Thank you!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 I’ll second that! Also, fabulous graphic there Paul.
Thanks, Bonnie, it’s AI-generated but I think it serves its purpose.
Still, quite eye popping and beautiful. Even AI images have to be chosen or programmed by someone with an eye taste and beauty so don’t give all the credit away. ☺️
I saw the picture, and I thought this was going to be hauntingly scary. I like your take on this. Clever as always and I am relieved.
I find the people who have some sort of actual power over others to be scarier than ghosts.
Solid and evocative. I'll try to mix my ghosts of the past and present more thoughtfully...
Thanks for reading and commenting, James.