Time Check

Is the world really at a crossroad or are we simply losing track of our inability to control life on this planet?

Compression sickness,

a bend in the river of

my gut, as I wretch from

oxygen deprivation

and my world implodes.

 

Bubbles expand into my blood

filling it with toxic waste,

stopping my lungs from

feeding my plastic brain.

 

I rise,

I expand,

float bloated

into the wind

where an abrasive

sand storm

awaits ,

hiding in a gentle,

mocking breeze,

 

daring me to step

out onto the wing,

challenging me

to fly

to the sun

in the waxed feathers

of guilt.

 

I weep

to feel those fingers

fondling,

encouraging carnal hope,

to hear urgent breaths

and see the rise and fall

of naked breasts,

that I may cup them

in my palms

as the pulse quickens

for the kill.

 

Life,

life will go on

and each of us

will take

what we will

and give back

what we will not.

 

Fear or fear not

the future can be

pure

or impure,

can have a saintly

self deprived

halo glow,

or it can be

filled with oriental spices

billowing with flavour

around the arid

desert of life.

 

27/08/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

strong emotive words and phrases .. like ...compression sickness ... and bubbles expanding in the blood .. and float bloated .. sets a dark introduction of a depressive state says i! ..but we find hope .. and can choose to rise up .. continue on .. i really like the waxed wings of guilt and how you have used the Phoenix here ... our guilt can be such and anchor on the soul and spirit of mankind ... a titillating sexual interlude, well placed .. almost like an aside .. how we do use sex to salve the weary traveler ... interesting choices in closing ... hmmmmmmmm the spirit ... or the carnal .. hmmmmmmm comes right down to that doesn't it Sir John ?! :)
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I guess the phoenix is relevant as Icarus as the sins cause those who try to fly to the sun to crash back to earth and drown in a sea of sorrows. Many thanks big 'E'.

[Einstein Noodle]

ah! i see it as guilt held by waxen wings let go as we fly closer to the sun .. and the wax, methods of clinging to, is/are melted and guilt falls to the earth ;) i see the bird drawn up on spiritual wings... as those "burdens" have been let loose

[kentuck14]

Don't know why but this made me think of Phillip K. Dick. John, I see your surrealistic side in this one.
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Amazing he published so many novels, several made into films/movies yet he was in poverty. Ah my surrealistic side sometimes escapes the darkened room I have it confined to. Many thanks Tom.

[Kaede16]

definitely a wake up call. The planet won't die, but it will make us accountable for the damages.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ans we should be accountable don't you agree. Many thank yous for indulging me today.

[Kaede16]

always a pleasure :)

[wordman]

makes you wonder about life

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I spend my life doing just that Ron, lol. Many thanks.

[wordman]

don`t we all john,you`re welcome

[John the Baptist]

The plethora of vivid images in this one casts a harsh glow on the world's current situation. The first two verses are a comment on the pollution of the planet, while verse three hints of a coming apocalypse as yet hidden from sight. The next verse uses Icarus imagery to illustrate how humanity has overreached itself, while the following one incorporates sensual images to show the closeness of sex to death. The closing two verses offer images both of hope and despair, with a warning at the end. All in all, quite an effort here. One of your best, McF.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Why thank you dear sir! Tis a passion to many but a mystery to most as to how to deal with it all.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

you know what i am thinking, John?
that may be the problem...maybe we try too hard to control life on this planet...and maybe we need to just flow with it...allow it to be what it is...and let nature take its course....but we destroy what is around us and we just go too far with technology and are nasty to our own planet.
love this piece....it expresses so much angst and truth.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I do agree with you Jacob we are often nasty or allow nasty things to happen on earth. Syria, the Amazon etc. Many thank yous Jacob. I am touched you like it.