Chasing Spoon

10 specific words (underlined) for a poem contest.

Downtown, in cardboard city is my hometown,

under the turnpike; I pay a toll for my role,

 

both food and sleep.

Lumbering metal birds flyover, low and constant,

 

forever the darkness follows the light,

Destruction filled nights of needles and tricks,

Construction in time, minutes by hours of perpetual ticks...

a certain type of juncture arises

  thundering voices and night-sticks,

  land on my head with lightening speed and efficiency,

 

dragging me off in the morning towards a never ending litany

 to which I declare nothing in defense anyway, for lost is my soul,

to the repetition of the Sun chasing the Moon, and I chasing spoon.

Author's Note

Spoonful

Oh the trouble that can be caused by just a spoonful.More at bigheadtodd.com#BHTM

Posted by Big Head Todd and the Monsters on Monday, May 11, 2015

Reviews

[ANTO]

I reviewed River Rei's version of this ten words prompt and the contrast that poets exhibit in their writing even given the same words, never ceases to amaze me.
This is a sad tale of a person who has ended up on the peripheries of society and is excluded from the 'security' of being 'in the clique' affords, so has to adapt to survive. The imagery in this is very very effective -
the lines "a certain type of juncture arises
thundering voices and night-sticks,
land on my head with lightening speed and efficiency" - are so very topical at the moment - they are virtually raw, open, seeping wounds of society that we are gazing into here.

Chasing spoon, I imagine means finding food to stay alive but also could mean drug habits - great writing altogether Todd.
:)

[modtoddinc]

Thank you for reading and reviewing my poem. I agree artistic interpretation is vast and creative: amazing as you have said. I sat down with the list of 10 words and began on a similar path as some of the other entries, (having read none of them prior), as I tried to write I became unsatisfied with the direction and began editing the first few lines... as I went through this process trying to allow creativity to flow, the direction of this piece formed and took hold. I have been deeply affected by the current state of affairs in our nation with regards to violence, etc. and it has showed in my work of late, this poem is no exception. I am satisfied with the direction it took and believe it stands on its own merits. I am very pleased you interpreted the title and last words as you have... I was sincerely hoping for this double meaning... not only here but throughout this poem and in many of the poems I write. Again, thanks for taking the time to visit.

~peace, Todd

[ANTO]

You're welcome Todd.
ditto

[Tovli]

loved the title! the poem is a poignant social commentary of chaos, yet the poem's flow is anything but chaotic--this contrast offers both reality and hope as if both concepts collide. nicely done. Tovli

[modtoddinc]

Thank you for this excellent and constructive review. I found it to be most helpful.

~peace, Todd

[Helen Crutchett]

Very intense poem incorporating the "Ten" words. Good job!

Thank you for joining in the challenge!

Helena

[modtoddinc]

Thank you for reading and your comments.

~peace, Todd