Night Fall

Darkness often a place of refuge and silent agony.

Testing times

as skin scrapes

on jagged asphalt

sheets and duvet

mountains rise

as the tectonic plates

between us

collide again.

 

The bitter aftertaste

of words

burns like

acid reflux

in my lungs

and I silently

scream out

in agony.

 

There in the valley

of darkness

I seek refuge

from the light,

from your critical gaze.

 

Once pressed lawns,

neatly manicured

now lie neglected,

overgrown

and choked with weeds.

 

The job now

looks insurmountable

and so I turn,

slip into the shadows

and weep.

 

01/05/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[kentuck14]

John,
Again, you dive into the deep dark waters of withdrawal. Rejection makes us curl into a ball . . . retreating to the fetal position . . . hoping for a rebirth of love but afraid to reach out in fear of more pain . . . but, aah, it is worth the risk! Specially like the lines in the 1st stanza.
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah I guess I know those waters well Tom, having swum them time and time again lol! Many thanks and glad you liked the opening stanza.

[Chris Shaw]

A disintegration of a relationship which shows no mercy. Only the darkness can provide a morsel of comfort. Killer lines. Quite savage.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I think that is the feeling of someone under that particular surgical intervention Chris. Many thanks.

[Chris Shaw]

Yes, I certainly felt the scalpel here :) Good morning John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Was that a cutting remark dear lady? Good morning to you too. I hope Thursday brings you warmth!

[Chris Shaw]

Have a good day yourself John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah I see you duck my humor! [Bows and exits the stage].

[Chris Shaw]

:) I've never been much cop with a scalpel.

[Einstein Noodle]

you choose such unique and interesting music with your poems ...i listened to this piece first this time .. what a perfect choice! and the pic of the "poet" ...siting at his desk .. underwater .. typing .. music .. i love it! your poem sir ... one of the most excruciating emotive writes i have read .. you need to put this one in your "golden" book sir! at least as far as i'm concerned .the imaging is brutal and oh how i feel the need to slip into some place where darkness hides and soothes me ..saves me from the "rocks of reality" ;) title to music and well unified piece of work .. well done says i!
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah my music choice is very self indulgent 'E'. I try to find some link to the theme either in lyric, melody or in emotion. Many thanks for liking it. I fear you are too kind here but I am grateful and humbled as I see the shadows of great poets rise in spectre above me. The likes of Leslie Philibert, Jacob, Chris, Richard (perfection) Jenkins etc....and of course your good self Sir!

[Einstein Noodle]

oh not me my friend ..certainly those you mention ... they are educated and educators as well .. but thank you .. very kind of you to say so .. you are in the groove with this poem.. i know you know what i mean .. some are just better than others .. and this one, at least, speaks to me with depth and feeling. not to flatter my friend .. i just think its very good.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I am grateful 'E'.

[Robert Trakofler]

Oh for the Wretched place for I do despair its vile taste too good sir be sure to give it a good thrashing and propel it back into the oblivion upon your emergence in your rested comprise John! Nicely written imagery and feel I think i saw Poe's face in that room good sir:)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes it tastes like a meal that has gone cold and your mother still made you eat. Not a nice place. Many thanks BB.

[R.E. Ray]

Yes, a refuge and place of agony. We must withdraw sometimes to regain the strength and will to love again. In the darkness, sometimes, we find ourselves. We all have visited that place you painted here. Good music, too.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you R.E. Indeed a place one does not want to visit too oftern as it saps at all the positive energies.

[gram linski]

A great tale of angst and poetry a crushed broken heart is a fine muse, indeed

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks gram hope your weekend is going well.

[gram linski]

well apart from the dead hitch hikers and the feds at the door, no bad,

[John Alexander McFadyen]

So you have dinner delivered fresh and company to watch reruns of Liverpool winning the Champions Cup on loop!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i remember when my last ex left...i could have looked at that overgrown lawn and said...well, i will mow it when i feel like it....it's much greener now than when you were here. And I kinda like it overgrown, actually.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes I for one understand this having had it replayed several times. At least I was fortunate enough not to have overstreached myself and ended up owning my own lawn, which I remained proud of. Many thanks Jacob!