Black Balloon

When you lose control of your emotions.

Black Balloon

I am sad as a black balloon,

bloated with the pain

of loss. I float, unable

to control my direction

as the winds of change

buffet my thin and brittle

stretched skin;

batter at my resolve,

sending me off course

and over inert, infertile

lands, where I see only

rocky, barren hope.

Here, in this dark, cold,

unfriendly sky I am

untethered, unable

to anchor myself to

any purposeful ambition.

I long for this membrane to rupture,

to allow my breath to

dissipate in the putrid air

on which my spirit floats

and that mocks at my well-being

as my beaten and bruised heart

implodes.

 

19/10/14

Author's Note

Reviews

[Siddhartha Chatterjee]

Great use of metaphor throughout. To me, the poem came across as a short and pertinent narrative on the dysfunctional urban man - "unable to control my direction/as the winds of change/buffet my thin and brittle/stretched skin". Very powerful lines, these.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Sid. I am stunned you have taken the trouble to delve into my 'back catalogue'.

[Mrudula Rani]

We lose control over emotions, when frustrations build up ! Your description of anguish is perfect. Readers can feel every sentiment in its full strength. A perfect picture of quitclaim! Excellent writing, John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Mrudula.

[Leslie Philibert]

What I like about John`s work is that he often surprises, and writes in many different directions. Here we have a sad and deeply pessimistic poem full of power and despair, which exactly gets the emotions right.
So read this if you like good poetry.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Leslie, this is an older write. I do like to explore anything that stirs my emotions!

[kentuck14]

John,
Sad . . . but well written. I have been in this most unwelcome place . . . not much fun! "Sad as a black balloon . . ." a striking line and the following extended metaphor are apt. I pray you are not dealing now with a black balloon my friend.
Tom

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Again you are most kind. Luckily most of my blackness is transient and from past experiences. Many thanks.

[kentuck14]

Good to hear!

[Cherrie]

Some of the best work comes from something we've seen and then lingers.
The poem is heavy and weighted filled with sorrow.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed that is whence it came Cherrie. Many thanks.

[Pryde Foltz]

Wow … superb work in metaphor …

I long for this skin to rupture,
to allow my breath to
dissipate in the putrid air
on which my spirit floats
and that mocks at my well-being
as my beaten and bruised heart
implodes.

Those emotions … they be allowed to be but not be allowed to run boat amok.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I long for summer again. Thank you so much Pryde.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

such a heavy, depressing write...almost enough in itself to weigh that balloon enough to have it come back to earth and puncture on those jagged rocks of memory.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I watched the Australian movie of the same name recently and loved it and it has left an image in my mind that related to the loss I suffered this year. Thank you Jacob.