Trace Evidence

TRACE EVIDENCE

caught and fearing ... we run and

claim innocence

desperate, narrow, brownstone crevasse

like a path that squeezes me tighter as i go

a vast vault of human kind

plastered with

slight    misted     and ghosty touching

we asign blame to others

nice try!

i lie to cover tracks of

guilty verdicts with

chamealian colors 

i change elusive

hues    

that just right marriage of

 green and greasy slick dark

to hide .... to allure and capture

old mossman greybeard

he has cyprus knees 

tenaciously they stand    they withstand 

with tendril beards of those still tall

inflated platitudes 

on the face of failing policy

the eraser at the end of my yellow pencil

is shiney and hard

I run it across my mistakes and

create dull smudges 

I wet the end    try again but

All I get is torn and 

wadded paper balls 

obliterate spit balls to flick and stick

i feel so sad .............and empty now

so sad and empty. 

flicking.  

1/21/2025

E.

 

Author's Note

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

a complex and difficult poem to write and live through, we all make mistakes in our daily lives, specifically our writing…so we erase and erase, try be perfect, sometimes it turn out for the better, sometimes not….” alli get is torn and wadded paper balls”……. well written E.
Warmly, B

[Einstein Noodle]

Betty ... what a treat to have your review on this .. thank you so much .. it means a lot to me .. your words ..thanks!!
E.

[Betty Hermelee]

You are very welcome E... My pleasure
Warmly, B

[Zoe Richardson]

If only we could get a do-over for life the way we can wad up a piece of paper and make spit balls out of it. I sense the frustration here, of a person looking back at wasted opportunities and failures they tried so hard to prevent. I understand this. It is why I stopped looking back. As the song says, "All we've got is this moment. 21st century's yesterday. You can care all you want. Everyone does, yeah. That's okay."

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Zoe, for taking time to read and share your thoughts and feelings ... i agree ... and myself have spent way to much time looking back to find a way to fix things ... such an impossible task and work for a fool ;) accepting our past foibles, failures and victories alike and letting it go ... facing the moment of this reality we do hold in our hands ... to use or abuse eh!? your review has given me a fine reminder this morning ... thanks again!
E.

[Zoe Richardson]

And an INXS song to listen to!

[Einstein Noodle]

:) .... super happy you checked it out too!

[An owl on the moon]

Your poem reads like a confession from within a labyrinth of guilt. It moves from physical escape (“caught and fearing… we run”) into an internal reckoning. This duality of flight vs. self-awareness is powerful. The speaker is trapped between wanting to hide (claiming innocence, using “chameleon colors”) and an inability to fully erase their mistakes. PROFOUND.

[Einstein Noodle]

Owl ..... I appreciate the care you took in absorbing this poem's content ... thank you so very much my friend ... what a beautiful review that humbles and brings gratitude into my heart ... blessings of joy on ya!
E.

[Thomas W Case]

Fantastic work, my friend. Powerful.

[Einstein Noodle]

I'm honored by your visit and truly humbled by your reaction to this poem .. thanks so very much .. I haven't been able to access WC for a while and have been moving North a bit ... it may take a while to catch up here at the Cafe; but I will ... thanks again my friend
E.

[Coyote Poetry]

My friend. Powerful words and thoughts shared.
(the eraser at the end of my yellow pencil
is shiney and hard
I run it across my mistakes and
create dull smudges
I wet the end try again but
All I get is torn and
wadded paper balls)
I understand the above lines. Hard to do. But we must try again. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for reviewing Mr. Coyote Man ... i am truly honored this spoke to you .. thanks so much for taking time and your encouraging words :)
E.

[KWP]

Hello Friend from a While Back - hope you are keeping well, so happy to read you here.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the humanness of us all. I have been thinking a lot lately about the continuum of life, it keeps going doesn't it, with us, then without us. I have been thinking about how we humans perceive life through what we crave, what we perceive, our conditioned minds leading to how we think and tick. It's easy to live in blame and guilt, but then whatever we project out is a mirror for ourselves. None of us perfect, and yet, we wallow in our imperfections so selfishly when the here and now and all that is was always here for the taking in endless clouds filled with perfect love.

I say stop, turn around and face all that brings your mind to unwise thought - examine it, discover where it has arisen from, perhaps then, we may finally set ourselves free.

E - you make me smile - always - stay you X

[Einstein Noodle]

such wise words KWP ... thanks so much for the visit!! it has been a way long time hasn't it!? i am not at the Cafe` as often as i use to be but am trying to do so more often ... these days inspirations come every 3 months or so and speak more softly to me ;) i am well ... Beauregard the dog has reached 9+ yrs. and recently was diagnosed with cancer. :( it is on his front leg in the cartilage above the wrist ... today, if he will get in the car, he has an appt. to have it drained. i am hoping it releives a little of the discomfort at least for a little while .. i will hop on over to your place soon and catch up reading .. love and joy on ya!
E.

[Robert Trakofler]

overall my cortex is swirling with the idea that history and in particular politics is doomed to repeat itself as you so eloquently inferred in this poem. at least you made sport of your infernal spit balls my instinct is just direct crumpling wadding and chucking I don't even bother with the eraser anymore LOL You are brave I cant even bring myself to write about it my mind shuts down and I see nothing but white when I even try to think about the state of things these days:( brilliant writing old friend just brilliant

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you kind Sir! i'm particularly glad that you spied a bit of humor in this one... for me ... where politics and science leave off ... faith and trust go to my Lord and Savior ... ;) it keeps my keel cutting the waves .. love on ya dear friend ... here at the Cafe'
E.

[Troy Henson]

a vast vault of human kind
plastered with
slight misted and ghosty touching
we asign blame to others


oooft...this was deep for me. The mere fact the human is us (in some that is) take no responsibility for their own action.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Troy! it's true ... we expect it in 2 yr. olds and try to teach them, with love, ... that admitting our wrong going and/or doing need "fessing" up in order to heal .. not only us but the world around us ... so happy to have your visit
E.

[emmajoygreen]

Blame often covers up guilt.. just as cynical comments can. In other words, some lie or make believe their past because they can, sitting alone, playing the 'I 'm as innocent as you are not and otherwise. Take care

'I lie to cover guilty verdicts with
chamelion colours
i change elusive
hues.. '

The.. let the ink run along with me. Perhaps? Sad and empty, yes: flicking is easily displayedy, guilt is harder to hide.. take your pick.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you for your review, Em! i appreciate all your reactions and thoughts :)
E.

[Pryde Foltz]

i lie to cover tracks of
guilty verdicts with
chamealian colors
i change elusive

hues


When the ego tells a story the ink is usually black on white but the tales are colorful. Did I get it?

[Einstein Noodle]

of course Ms. Pryde!!! of course ... we all know as creative writers ... what we see is what we get .. absolutely love your visit dear friend