Phantom of the Opera

He is a lamp post, seen yet unseen.
A street sign no one reads.
Like a billboard,
he flashes loneliness in neon
but no one blinks.
He is a gaping gargoyle,
meant to swallow the rain
but never invited in,
because he is no longer understood.

Like the Phantom of the Opera,
He lives behind walls,
his human face disqualified
from the daylight.
Like the Beast of Beauty and the Beast,
he is shunned because
he does not know how to be gentle
without being erased,
how to be strong
without being frightening.

Women look through him and
walk quickly past.
They’d rather sleep with their cats.
He talks to his hands and legs,
he touches his lips,
strokes his teacup with longing.
He smiles at his TV,
rehearsing tenderness with objects
that don’t recoil.

The neighbour’s dog knows him
but not the neighbours.
Silence slams him when he opens a door.
Voids hurt his waking eyes.
If a bird comes chirping on his ledge
he feels greeted.
He looks out and another
season has passed.

At night he freezes into stone,
a heart beating deep within,
a phantom heart, singing in the dark
made for a world that ended
without telling him.

Author's Note

Lonely men epidemic

Reviews

[Davidgeo]

scene not unseen. For real though, stay away from American incels. They ain't quite right at the moment. They really are "fighting" for a "world" that, probably never existed in the first place but, they really want to will that fantasy into existence. Nefarious wealthy people are facilitating the fantasy to induce an American civil war... in my opinion. I don't actually know that. But I'm pretty sure. The super elites are trying to bring us the fourth reich. I think, I would never say that I am sure that's what is going on. Of course... I'm pretty sure America is being led by neo nazis. For real, these people are neo nazis.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you Davidgeo. It's very scary to read about neo nazis.

[Davidgeo]

Ha, are you ready for the party party party? It's important to involve ourselves in not just presidential politics but also local politics. Take an interest in who your local judges are, take an interest in your local county prosecutor is. The people at the top of the s**t show are enabled and emboledened from the bottom up.

[Davidgeo]

emboldened. smh. if people only knew how bad at spelling i really am...

[The Unknown Sith]

I like this. I can relate to some of it. Well written and flows well. Good pen.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you, The Unknown Sith.

[Vol]

BuzzyB,
I read this three times hoping I missed some hint or insight into who "he" is. Effective symbols need an anchor, something along the way to show something about what is being represented. Yes, he doesn't fit in. So, is his heart broken? Has he failed his friends? Has he lost his way? What has he done to be ostracized? Is it his fault, or society's? An excellent buildup, though...
Vol

[BuzzyB]

Thank you Vol.I love that this poem set you thinking. Yes, it isn't complete. Because I didn't know how to do it.

[Vol]

Vol
How about this? What do you think are your most powerful images? I see a lot of "light," in the beginning, but darkness at the end. Both are important in society, literature and art. What can you say about them people would relate to? usually one line is sufficient "Voids hurt his waking eyes." Then the reference to "silence and void." I think lonliness in crowded places is something city folks know about... "I Am A Rock," by Simon and Garfunkel talks about the same thing but speaks to independance and strength... In the LAST line. I never know where my poems are going till I get there, but along the way I ask myself, "What's this about?" Then somewhere I include the answer...

[BuzzyB]

Thanks for those inputs. They'll help me a lot. Especially, asking oneself what it's all about.

[Thomas W Case]

This poem aches with quiet exile, the kind of loneliness that no one really notices until you let it speak. I can feel him there, alive and painfully human, trying to inhabit a world that keeps moving past.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you very much for your lovely review, Thomas.

[MarthaKlokke]

I have seen many. I have touched a few. Reach out more and touch more, show you understand if you find someone. Good has a way of returning. Beautiful poem.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you so much Martha. I agree thst good has a habit of returning.

[Sapphus]

Utterly beautiful from where I stand. The world of beating hearts is getting silenced.

[BuzzyB]

The way you expressed it makes me sad. I wish it was different. Thank you very much Sapphus.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

reminds me that it is so unfortunate when people only see the beauty or ugly of a person's exterior without bothering to get aquainted with the interior. The subject of this poem tries so hard to blend into society but just can't. I remember watching the series Beauty and the Beast...Linda Hamilton's character turned fear to love as she got to know and understand the Beast. Wish more of us could do that.
I think I understand this poem in a way that gives me hope since at least one poet recognizes this flaw
so many people seem to have. Can't look deeper.
j.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you so much for your thoughts on the poem. For appreciating it with such kind words. I also share your feelings and wish there was better understanding in the world. People matter. Always. ❤️

[JessyJacob]

True Love never sees how the person is though he is in wrong step feels to love because love only can see love. I want to quote many lovers who lived on this earth. Love tries to understand the love the person does. We crave for the love itself. How the person is it doesn't matter it just sees the love in him.

I just took time whether you can live without me if so i am not needed. I felt love in you that you can't sustain further without me.

Love can change people insecurities and moulds them better if he feels he found his love. For a person who is guilty free to seek love he doesn't need to be understood. A woman walks behind man and takes oath to be with him. She patiently bears every thing happy and sorrow not just for her but to her husband who loves her and takes oath and promises her to be her man in both tough times and joy.
A relationship of wife and husband is great and also tough. You can fight and leave any relationship but a wedlock keeps them together. Both live together though it hurts and sustains it and that is life they walk the path into.

Though people take oath to be together and they don't stick to it and 0nowadays people using wedlock as if it is like route to escape and try to fulfill their desires by breaking it.

How much you give value to wedlock that protects you from every trouble that is shaking it. In a way a good deed you live for that takes care of it no one can dare to touch that boundary.


Jessy Jacob ❤️

[BuzzyB]

Thank you for your beautiful thoughts on the sacred wedlock bond, dear Jessy. You write with much wisdom and a heart big and deep like an ocean. God bless you.

BuzzyBee ❤️

[JessyJacob]

Thank you so much. I just saw one video how to answer in civils exam. Being myself engineer I write concept wise and in points. But how did you feel my replies are they looking like story telling. Because for a question we need to be detailed and clear like a story. Because with points you lose the linking of the concepts.
I see you write many poems proses like a story. I was thinking writing is not a hobby for you and you are a professional writer. Why I am saying is since 8 yrs i am seeing you write not for relief but to make enjoy the readers which gives much inspiration to write more. Don't think otherwise that you are writing for earning.
My intention to encourage you comes from seeing you as a writer. It's not a easy task to write and you are gifted with talent. I have seen variants of your thoughts. There is one common thing that makes me to read your writings is you keep the anger in a mild condition and expresses it as nicely taken.

I write ✍️ something which I want to express but nowadays i am not able to write with free flow. At the time of independence there were journalism where people used to write so much facts and uniting people and many wrote with angst against Britishers. Nowadays people are looking for praises and no criticism which is true. People are given respect because we can not say the truth too, and it has become a logic to develop AI where the pattern should be mild. Sometimes it is good to say it in milder ways but it loses the emotions which created those thoughts. An emotional feeling when you undergo gives some thought and rethinking of it makes a second thought.

In my office my lead has given me opportunity for me where previous leads didn't even cared for. Then I gave appreciation to him to higher managers in copy, I spent on 2 hrs for thinking whether to send that email, then slowly my thoughts are losing the idea why to give it's fine. But I stick to my first emotional thought that I need to appraise him. And I did sent. I was grateful to him and he definitely remembers me.

Yea emotions cool down so it depends on you how take care of those emotions which makes a difference in thought

Writing skills every one possess it and it's a great talent that you possess. Don't restrict your inner heart to unravel freely.

Jessy Jacob ❤️

[JessyJacob]

Writing skills everyone doesn't possess it and it's a great talent that... Typo.

[BuzzyB]

Thank you my dear friend. You are a beautiful soul.