Fame (Silence and Life)

When you’ve been marked

and filed away

and blades of grass replace legions

of euphoric fans,

the only unfettered applause left

will be the rustling of trees above.

.

But you will not hear it

as you lie at arm’s length,

forever

next to a stranger,

more accustomed to soil

than stars.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

i hope that day for me comes soon. the rock and roll lifestyle was a short fitful phase in my life, i dont regret it, but im glad it is over. now the soil, the trees and the sky are all i need. and i also take a lot confort in talking strangers. it's often easier than talking to people who know what i've been through.

[Relic]

Thanks for the comment, Ern. I'm also away from the rock n roll lifestyle.

[Fran Marie]

when the fanfare
fades and the flame of
fame has been spent
the sadness seeps
in and is intensely
felt, expressed
perfectly here..

nicely penned

[Relic]

Thanks very much, Fran.

[Dieter]

That's not just true for rock star/entertainers. That holds true for us all.

[Relic]

Thanks for your thoughts, Dieter.

[Lorry]

Love that this took me to the breeze rustling the leaves being a faint echo of the adulation once given in screams and shouts, replaced by the gentlest ovation lulling us in eternal slumber. A bit like writerscafe lining the streets troll free to applaud us on our way. Now, what a wonderful world that would be 😀

[Relic]

haha, you're so right, Lorry. Thanks for the read.

[Inessa]

A very touching write, Relic. The gentle sadness seeps off the page here, with some soothingly lovely images. Those trees rustling in applause for a life well lived....a wonderful image. Your final lines are bittersweet as well. We live our entire lives in the company of family and loved ones and we find ourselves spending eternity with a stranger. So, well written.

[Relic]

I appreciate your thoughts, Inessa. Thank you.

[Robert Trakofler]

perhaps the applause will be a rustle my friend... but his refrain will be a chorus if you listen hard enough you will hear his whisper joining into the waves of a grander melody of the yet to be formed compositions:)

[Relic]

Well said, Robert. Thanks.

[Robert Trakofler]

I know I was speaking to the chorus LOL of course you know this you are a musician:)

[Relic]

....................... :)

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Relic... I have enscribed on my Mother's Stone...
a verse from a past well known poet, as follows:
"Close to my heart I fold each precious thing the
day yields... until God gives us Spring". She has a site
under the trees at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Delaware.
truly, Pat

[barleygirl]

This is very thought-provoking. Not familiar with your guitar hero, but I have a few of my own, & Gregg Allman (RIP) comes to mind. I love how you seem to be depicting someone famous as having two identities -- one the imaginary hero & the other one as plain as dirt, just like the rest of us. Even tho this is written about the dichotomy between fame & ordinary stuff like life/death . . . I was also reminded of how many people lose their "fame" as they grow older -- not that anyone is famous in the sense of a guitar hero -- but the way we can be the center of attention in people's lives when younger, but completely forgotten about when older. It's a sort of shine coming off the star we used to be in some peoples' lives. As I said, very thought-provoking! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Relic]

Thanks, Margie. I Remember Greg looking skinny and frail the last time I saw him. A friend of mine who did security at their shows said he was always mad. It must have been from sickness.

[Kelly Scheppers]

"...the only unfettered applause left will be the rustling of trees above."

Oh, to be remembered in such a way. Such a poignant piece, Tim...beautifully done.

[Relic]

Thank you, Kelly. :)

[S.zaynab.kamoonpury]

Yeahh man sth all celebs ought to realize. You say it awesomely in poetic sighs. Kudos for a fabulous poem on the graves of fame where imagery as you write of is better to read of.


Pls pleez do review/ comment/ write your thoughts under my newest poem too titled, ' sing a song of Taj Mahal'

[MomzillaNC]

And yet… the hearts of fans may send his songs rising to that other plane… swelling his soul with "Just What [he needed]"

[Relic]

Ha, good one. Thank you.

[MomzillaNC]

YVW 😎