inverse the envelope, licked to stick closed,
my mind opens, exposed, with each tongue touch
spins cyclone vortex synapse parades, gentle rain
nourishing dandelions on the membrane,
blow and watch the seeds breed
spread finger weeds
speak your mind, before you go insane
speak your mind, give birth, love/pain
speak your mind, before they take it
what was lost, has been found in a bin collecting
dust from lack of original thought process, mind
never mined, depths plumbed shallow, skull hollow
but full of use-less programmed knowledge, nod
your head when the light goes red, pavlov's human
rewarded for regurgitating mass media's mantras
repeated in water cooler conversations to impress
but you been undressed and found lacking, shrinkage
beyond store bought microwavable meal idea-ls,
pre-chewed for ease of swallowing,
flavored to taste, all waste-less filling
speak your mind, before you go insane
speak your mind, give birth, love/pain
speak your mind, before they take it
stop the press! madness these thoughts
take cerebral root, words absurd demured
mired in the cage of my teeth, indentured til
freedoms paid price, life or fatal relief, who gives
a...until someone opens their mouth & the
grenade falls out, run...3,2,1...BOOM!
speak your mind, before you go insane
speak your mind, give birth, love/pain
speak your mind, before they take it
AWAY
gotta say what you need to say, before
they taKE you AwAY
It is One Shot Wednesday, a collective of poets raising voices in loud whispers in love, peace, protest, beauty and little hairless dogs. Really it can be about whatever you want. Write something nearly poetic and come join us at 5 pm EST and throughout the day on Wednesday.
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80 comments:
Speak it man, speak it. I hear the white van approaching.
hahaha I think this loon might already have flown over the cuckoo's nest
As I'm only a tad nuts at best
But will speak it clear
Without any fear
And at least I'll get a nice cushy, padded cell
Giving me a new place to dwell
Good advice...I needed the reminder.
It took me far to long to 'speak my mind' .... lucky for us, you do it so beautifully!
This is why politicians drive me bonkers. They're all about sound bites and winning support. I'd rather someone tell it like it is.
Speak it, Brother Brian!
It's not always so bad to be thought of as crazy...sometimes, that's the only way to be heard. And yes, there really are those who have no voice.
this was excellent brian - wonder if it was Iwan Petrowitsch Pawlow you were talking about - however far too often i'm all too well "trained" and keep my mouth shut when i should speak...but as pawlow says - if it works one way - it works the other way as well...so trying to break free...smiles
Oh Yesss Brian!
Indeed, speak up your mind before it becomes vegetative with storing of thoughts for way too long..
Very well written. I could feel the angst and rage; for a cause well justified!
Many Hugs xx
Say it loud, say it long... if only more folks knew that their own words count. Matter.
Way to bring the point home, Brian. The repetition is haunting.
My first thought was: "If they take me away, I hope the food is decent." Sorry, I realize that's not what this poem is about, but just to show you how I think.
My second thought was that this must sound really neat when said quickly. So did that, and I can honestly say that it rocks the house once you break the sound barrier.
Dig the chorus. I imagine a bunch of people in togas, or possibly straightjackets, chanting that.
Excellent poem! :D
(CLICK...Locks door, pockets key)
On the way home, stops by a river, and throws the key as far as he can!
Looks like you said it all.
WOW......you even convinced me it was Wednesday.....:-)Hugs
"what was lost, has been found in a bin collecting dust from lack of original thought process,mind
never mined, depths plumbed shallow,skull hollow..."
Um, yeah. So, where were you when I was 17? It took me too many years to start speaking up. I thought it would be easier to nod and repeat, but it almost cost me my mind. No more of that nonsense, though. Excellent One Shot! (as always)
Preach! :)
it's amazing how strong one's mind becomes when one begins exercising their voice! Love it!
Well, these poems are coming from your own pain, and whenever I think you might be "normal," here comes one like this! :-)
madness utter madness
ya know when you have to remind yourself - game over...
Niceeeee Bri
stay sane
Tons of great lines in this one--being weird, I like the 'cage of teeth...indentured, 'but the chorus also is extremely effective, and all the imagery up in your face and real as that grenade.
Beat ya! :) You know those poems I mentioned in my post...those would be me speaking my mind. I often wonder what would be thought of me if I really let loose. If I know I'm going crazy...then I must not be insane. Over done quote much :) I can easily see these words being spitup at an open mic, daring the audience to really hear them. Just let me know if those sleeves get too long, I know some really neat knots for when they get in the way :)
Once the mind is strong, the world bends.
Great poem.
WOW! Powerful stuff, Brian! Seriously, sanity's overrated.. and "insanity" is the place to be in! So while the transition's still on, it's would be really nice for us to heed to your advice here...
Loved the "chorus"... very poignant!
I love the imagery in your words. Nicely said Brian.
Anita.
man this is GREATNESS! being original and against the mass thought process has gotten me a lot of enemies but more love... and it's just wayyyy more awesome than being a boring clone. WOOT!
The chorus so exemplifies the life of a poet...now don't it.
There is so much to reflect on in this one, Brian, and you really drive home the point with the refrain. So many (myself included sometimes) regurgitate whatever we are fed.
I love the rhythm of this. I think this may be one of my faves. And, YES, speak your mind. I really want to learn to do this. Maybe I'll take a class.
By poem's end my eyeballs were spinning in their sockets as my tongue sang along. - Brendan
It's so hard to be original and think outside the box when every where we turn, we're being asked to conform, fit in, get along, don't rock the boat...
Curious as to what prompted this one...I feel like most people feel their "skull hollow but full of use-less programmed knowledge."
Deep stuff.
Excellent, Brian :)
"They're coming to take me away, ha ha, ho ho, he he..." (or something to that effect) That was utterly fabulous!!
Powerful tribute/poem to today.
And beyond. Your work Brian, has music in it.
Lady Nyo
"speak your mind, before you go insane..."
so good. i've been afraid of saying what's on my mind for a long time, and your words, your images, your urgency, give me courage, hope.
Hard-hitting piece, Brian! A very thin line separates insanity from sanity and we all experience moments when both merge and go BOOM in our heads.
'Full of use-less programmed knowledge.' The first thing that came to mind after reading the first few lines was a joke about George's fiance Susan dying from licking too many cheap stamps. Oh yes, FULL of use-less.
ha, sometimes speaking the truth/ being honest is like a grenade coming out of the mouth compared to all the PC crap that people usually spurt about (although,I am guilty of spurting PC crap, too.)
mama always said, "say what you mean but don't say it mean" :)
Really loved this, Brian! Speak your mind! ;)
"what was lost, has been found in a bin collecting
dust from lack of original thought process, mind
never mined, depths plumbed shallow, skull hollow
but full of use-less programmed knowledge, nod
your head when the light goes red, pavlov's human
rewarded for regurgitating mass media's mantras"
Loved it!
wahoo. we have to speak our mind...i do so much more as i age! hee! anyway, just getting around to the blogs again...blogger wouldn't let me comment today...this was great!
last stanza wowee!! loved it...your piece made me smile, laugh actually. I spoke my piece at work and yep management threatened to fire me so uhm thanks for the advice and all but I do think until I secure another position, I shall not speak my mind at all lol
Nice OS as usual :)
Okay, this is silly but that song "They're Coming to Tale Me Away" started playing in my head.
Thanks for the encouragement, Brian. And while I don't completely understand the poem, I love this line
'blow and watch the seeds breed
spread finger weeds'
have a great night
Brian...what are visiting hours? I'd like to come by and congratulate you on another good write. Do you really believe speaking your mind is always a good idea...:)
only if you are willing to stand behind it...what you are willing to lie about or keep quiet about says much about you as a person...
"mind never mined"... I love that. I'm not so afraid to speak my mind as much as I am the consequences of it. But so far, it hasn't stopped me (or I haven't learned). Thanks Brian.
Growing up, I was never encouraged to speak my mind only not to "stir the pot" Freely speaking my opinion has always been somewhat challenging but I continue to work at it daily...thanks love for the encouragement.
I really liked your refrain...it felt like you were telling us "it's okay". A sense of calmness in the craziness
WOW!
This is awesome!
Thank you, Brian.
I so love your writings!
You are blessed in your writing abilities!
I'm a firm believer in speaking my mind. It gets me in a lot of trouble sometimes :)
I think you have to know when to speak up and when to keep quiet.
I like the rhythm of this.
Nicely done, Brian
Yes whilst there is still time....
I love the thought Brian
One has to let one self open and say things... otherwise it does create a knot within...
For me words are also therapeutic... hence I write...
Thanks for sharing this lovely verse...
Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/05/whispers-buddha-and-life.html
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay
Heavy stuff in this poem, Brian! Yet your voice pulls it through 'un-darkly'. Instead, it turns into a not-so gentle warning, a nudge 'to speak up'. I love it especially the first two stanzas--love how you put to words the process of going booom! Thanks!
Your contrasts appear soft yet are stark, if that makes sense. I love the chorus. It adds a sing-song madness sensation to the damnation of the theme. Wonderful dark ink.
Beth
Hi! Brian...
What a nice use Of words...When it comes to getting the message across to others to speak one [their] mind...Before it's too late?!?
Thanks, for sharing!
DeeDee ;-D
I did, I tried, I almost screamed but it turned into sobs...I adore what you wrote, you have no idea how much I see in it
I have learned to speak my mind and follow my dreams, but it was a long process.;)
I always love the passion with which you convey your convictions.;)
Have a great midweek dear Brian.;)
xoxo
Yes! Yes you do! I quite speaking my mind. At least, out loud! No one care to hear really. Everyone values their own opinion. Sooo...I stay silent!
Hugs
SueAnn
Such a thrill!
"Speak your mind" did it for me, great write.
Speak it Brian
Our expression is truly the only thing we own. Brilliant piece again Brian, the refrain was perfect. Third stanza
what was lost, has been found in a bin collecting
dust from lack of original thought process, mind
never mined, depths plumbed shallow, skull hollow
but full of use-less programmed knowledge, nod
your head when the light goes red, pavlov's human
rewarded for regurgitating mass media's mantras
I sit in awe of your wordplay as usual my friend ~ Rose
A lot of power in words. You got me thinking. Which would probably be a good thing to do before speaking. Well said...
Just brilliant! :)
Internal rhyme and half-rhyme give this rant its edge. An almost creepy unequal cadence results-- a little like tripping. The words convey intelligence--symptoms of impending insanity, yet the images run together such that the one realizes the process has already begun...making the point. Nice.
Wow, so raw but truthful!
Ewwww at "beyond store bought microwavable meal idea-ls,
pre-chewed for ease of swallowing"
The thought of having ones food pre-chewed... Yuck!!
Great prose, thank you for your comment on mine today :)
Great piece!
facade
Well said!
Wow! I bet this is a great performance piece!
yes, we all have something to say and there might even be someone listening.... loved this... especially because I think the words will always speak to someone, and even if there is only one person who benefits, that is enough.
They're coming to take me away, ha ha hee hee, to the funny farm.....
Brilliant Brian, I so dig when you speak from the box (soap)... very fine word play and images...had to laugh, we both used 'mire' in our OSW, such a popular word, ha! Thought it was interesting to read yours after reading HW--weed theme this week? Fabulous one shot ~
I can hear music being played ~ the "chorus" is great on this one. Is it scary that I can identify? So glad to stumble upon another weekly meme...now gives me 2 to think about it.
Thanks for stopping by my place earlier.
I shall put a word in every now and than. I have a tendency to forget hmm... Oh yes, nice one!
I have been quiet for years and just decided this last Winter that I will speak my mind! Good thing for my family I am actually a positive person! I love this and you should put it to music!
Wow, we ARE the programmed products of our society, aren't we! So well written, Brian, you seem able to get into anyone's head. Great stuff!
terrific =)
Stunning poem Brian. Simply stunning.
Splendid, Brian. Speak your mind before you go insane. I like that.
Bless!
Wow, this is such an impassioned speech! I agree with one of the comments that this would make a good performance piece. I love the refrain, I still hear it in my head.
nice..speak my mind? I do, sir... I do. Only problem is it gets me in trouble a lot of the time...
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