what is it he sees
on the corner of 5th &
Rivermont, where all roads
lead in & out of town?
he shadow boxes
the street sign
with taped up fists
jab-jab-jab
haymaker
dancing round & round,
arms ripped, flying a'flurry
until the light
turns red &
he sits in a folding chair,
drug this morning
from the mission,
splashing water on his head
from a dirty blue bucket,
toweling off while
mumbling to himself,
waiting on green
to have another go...
is it angels & demons,
or fiery dragons of
his mistakes or others
that pull him here,
each day, to fight back &
do we just do a better
job hiding
our own struggles?
This poem is for One Shot Wednesday, a new gathering place for poets & writers to showcase their talents. Post a poem today and come join us. Mr. Linky opens at 5pm EST.
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82 comments:
Twice, I cannot believe it. Yippee.
God bless.
your words never disapoint....magical.
Brian, you always have an eye and a heart for the underdog, the invisible, the forgot. A good reminder to care about those we often don't notice. I feel convicted many times when I stop by here.
Excellent poem, such vivid details.
'angels & demons,
or fiery dragons of
his mistakes or others
that pull him here,..' From a distance they look strange on the street corner with their antics, until we look deeper inside.
I think we all have inner demons to fight on our own, and sometimes with help. I think it is similar to the saying that we all come from dysfunctional families, in that my demons are different from your demons. Some things we think about and have to fight everyday, while others just pop up every now and again.
The sad thing is how one goes about handling one's inner demons. Sometimes the choice one makes in how to handle them just causes one to have even more demons. I guess that saying, "The Devil made me do it." can apply to those who handle it in a way that causes more demons, which one would think that the devil wants one to handle things this way.
I think acceptance that each of us is not perfect and never will be, can help one to handle our inner problems. Somehow it is hard for us to realize that we are not perfect, especially in today's world where there are so many famous people who are seemingly perfect. But as we all know they are far from perfect, it is just very sad that young people idiolize these types of people instead of their hard working, normal, loving family members, and friends.
This is just such a sad statement of life today.
God bless.
Brian, thank God I am not at that road any more, wondering "Where did they all go? Those days, months, years?
Ans to Q: We had coffee and apple rolls, sitting on concrete bench in beautiful river setting. We both spoke, no BS. He even smiled a couple times. He was pretty far gone mentally, but who knows, maybe a little hope filtered its way into his psyche.....
I think some of us hide our demons and not let them be so obvious as this guy.
One stop Wednesday looks like a great challenge and lots of fun, too! Great idea :)
20 years ago, I was driving in grid lock traffic with my best friend and my daughter (one at the time) was in her car seat. Our car at the time was a beater with no air conditioning. It was 90 out and probably 90% humidity.
Daughter was screaming and thrashing. As I tried to quiet her, my BFF said, "leave her alone, she is only doing what every other person wants to do. I'd scream and thrash right now if I thought I could get away with it."
We have a man like this in our neighborhood. He rides his bike from dawn til dusk, having conversations with himself and at times kicking his bike. I've heard he suffers from Tourette's Syndrom. Everyone knows who he is in town and we all quietly look out for him. You captured is so well with "angels and demons" because we will never know...well done!
your imagry is amazing.
You see beauty in the others the rest of us cast off. I continue to see the world differently since I came to know you.
I know some like him, when they lose the battle temporarily, they wind up on my floor. We patch them up and hope that this time, they will stay patched.
Kat
AS HUMANS WE ARE GROOMED TO FIGHT BACK WHEN WE DO WE DONT FEEL LIKE THE UNDERDOG, GOOD POST FRIEND :)
However he got to that place he is staying in shape. I don't blame some people for not wanting to live in reality. I have been in that place a few times myself. But my inner strength won and showed me I could do it.
again Brian I doff my cap to the lord...excellent piece well done
Never disappointment in coming here Brian. Sometimes I think I will just skip and head somewhere else and then I read the first lines and you have me!
(Absolutely amazing. There were 5 comments when I clicked on "comments," and by the time the comment page loaded, there were 16!)
But, oh, yeah, I came to comment on the post. Short attention span here.
I love the theme of fighting one's hidden demons. Most of us do it, but with much less drama, lest they lock us away. Great, as always.
awww...You always seem to capture those poor souls struggle... GREAT JOB
We definitely all have struggles, and it's hard to see those who can't seem to beat them.
Your words always take me to another place Brian, you are a brilliant writer. take care.
good job mrsu...lol. a quick thought on this guy. i see him all the time when i am heading through town though i think he is quite gone...i tried talking with him but got little...he is still a person though so i try to look out for him...
I often wonder what other's stories are as I see them doing their thing. This is very vivid, a touching piece.
We definitely do a better job!! Well written!
Hugs
SueAnn
So compassionate Brian.
And yes, we are all pretty much the same, except some of us have not had the cap that holds down what we repress blown away by trauma.
Not quite sure what it means...
I love this poem. For me it gives a glimpse into the mind of the homeless gentleman I see downtown. thanks
Very nice, Brian.
I sometimes wonder while we are all struggling to mask our own shadows to box, when will we decide it's too much to hold back anymore. . . just like the shadow boxer in this poem.
There really is an internal struggle wrapped up waiting to be freed. Your subject represents too many in our world.
Nicely portrayed Bri
hey come on over to 1 Stop Wednesday - "Oh you are hosting? My bad"
Everyone else is welcome too!!!!!
How incredibly sad that there are so many of this person out there. :o(
Beautifully told.
We have a guy who is very similiar to this one in our little town sometimes I wonder is he possessed or am I the one who is really crazy because he seems at least free in some strange way..wonderful read and a very vivid description that provoked a great deal of thought for me.
Amazing how you create a possible mental landscape from behavior. cheers (for One Stop as well!)
Most people tend to remain seed than wishing to flower and release their fragrance...because they fear that it might reveal their stinks..of jealousy, hatred and the likes.
Wonderful poem.
In India we have readings of Urdu poetry all night long. They are called 'Mushaira' nights.
I did not blog or read blogs while I was gone so I am happy to be back and to read once again your wonderful words.
PG
You could see more than the average folks like me, but the way you describe what you see, is unmatchable. You are alone Brian.
reminds me of what my brother and husband call "wetbrain" - when alcoholics get to the point of no return....(blessing they are both recovered and do recovery work now)...reality does have its bites...great job...bkm
i know someone just like this, and it is getting harder and harder to be around. i find myself on the defense during much of our interactions, and it is exhausting. always a fight, always a struggle, always drama!
i love her though,
always will.
You touch upon a subject which our society chooses to ignore. So many people choose to look the other way, pretending to not notice.
And don't we all have our own angels and demons ? Many of us just hold it all in until...
My greatest fear is being locked in my mind...demons and dragons. You always champion the forgotten ones, Brian. Thank you for your wonderful point of view.
The last stanza is so powerful, Brian. And I think it's true - we just hide our struggles better.
You capture a hurting soul so well.
I can see this guy, literally wrestling with his demons. Perhaps he is more honest than the rest of us in showing them. Do we hide them better, or just differently?
You gave us a brilliant word-picture, and made me think. Thank you.
I can see him . . .
Small battles...big wins. :) Have a fun Wednesday.
Brian, you have an acute eye for those invisible.
Wow, just wow.
jj
Vivid, dramatic, compassionate. Great writing.
he shadow boxes
the street sign
with taped up fists
Heaviness that can't be punched out, but at least an attempt sometimes has to be made for sanity's sake I am guessing.
I know man who was homeless at one time and the rage it left in him is still tangible.
go dog go
the story is the same
we just got older
and thought we were wiser
smiles, and hugs,
dianne
what to say, it's all been said...you have such a way of making us feel right smack in the story, wow
Thought provoking, sad, and disturbing, but cleverly written.
A striking image followed by a damn good (rhetorical) question. Your 'chronic' empathy for the outcast amongst us is on good display here, Brian. Makes me wonder if I am any less strange than this street corner shadow boxer when I go out on my jogs and bike rides...
I agree we all have our demons which we have to conquer to preserve our sanity - thing is that most of us bury them and pretend they don't exist - unless we live in the past! Excellent, Brian.
Wonderful snapshot of a life.
Loved the conclusion Brian, do we in fact do a better job of hiding our own struggles?
Oooo yepper I can relate. Good one Bri- Blessings!
sigh. for the beauty of this post Brian!
For some reason it puts me in mind of Paul Simon's The Boxer.
i think he's fighting off something we can't see--probably the last hope of mankind.
"...do we just do a better
job hiding
our own struggles?"
Powerful conclusion. My answer is a resounding YES WE DO! Unfortunately, it gets very tiring.
Living his life is not all bad. He does what he wants...even if it is not reality.
I envy that on a level.
You've gotten it so spot-on...another incarnation exists in Brooklyn too...
You look at things when others look away - I like this.
My husband used to work with such people - and they have many sad stories to tell
nice. love the ending... tying it all together... where it becomes about "us" and not just "him"...
~ smj
The visuals are stunning.
I really love how you write - it seems simple on the surface, but there's not really any simple there, really.
I definitely restrain myself from "acting out" in public. Wonder what it would be like if I just let go?
A beautiful poem, reminding us of the person inside of the shell we see. Vivid and thought-provoking. Your last stanza really got to me.
Nice...I like the thoughts you posed at in the last stanza.
Sounds like my personal life.
Or brain damage from one to many coup/contrecoup injuries! Literal in boxing, but metaphorically true for the rest of us.
I would say, Yes...
You have a way with words. I like the portrayal of struggle between inner demons and those we face on the surface. The title is awesome.
I am with you on this post. Open hearts, open minds.
We all have our demons to fight, and our crosses to bear...
Beautiful imagery, and possessed of a sense of compassion far too many seem to lack. An excellent look at the downtrodden elements of society so many try to forget exist at all.
Wish he had someone in his corner. But maybe that's part of what got him out there, not having someone. Well, your poem is its own "Burgess Meredith."
Thanks for the One Stop Poetry project, which I look forward to, whether I participate again or not.
I wonder what the demons are and where are the angels.
beautiful poem! I LOVE it!
Questions we need to ask our inter souls
Do We?
I like this one! You just get better and better!
Very nice job, I am glad that I have visited your site.
We all have our demons and battles to fight, maybe not as public. Great as always.
This poem really moves me with its portrait of a homeless man, sandwiched as it is between questions about what he sees/ is fighting, and whether he's really all that different from the rest of us, except in degree.
we all have demons and angels inside us i guess :)
at least i have armies of each.
I love the replay value of your poems. The read, then reread I find myself doing with your posts is fixating and immersive. So glad I stumbled upon your site!
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