Secret Lives of the Motionless

I want to be the traveler, 

not the tourist           but the traveler

wandering the hills as natural

as a river. I want to see

land in its native state. 

To be one body flitting

about the city like a leaf, 

motile in concert with the streets. Indistinct. 

Easy to miss, but not easy to 

catalog as the one who is not

quite belonging. I want to be 

the wallpaper or the furniture

a grouping of ferns           a lonely dinghy 

being photographed from the water

edge, where a scattering of men

are looking out on the lake, shading

their eyes with their hands & asking

if that boat is one

they might often see

if they belonged          here.

Author's Note

2014

Reviews

[Robert Trakofler]

I have always been horribly conspicuous, nary a moment when i get to melt into the scenery. I would have a very short career as a criminal for i would be an ease to describe to all onlookers:) my face shows everything I can not play poker cause my face is a teleprompter. When i was a kid i was always the first to get picked for a given transgression and generally I have learned to except this aspect of my existence. The sentiment of this poetic expression is absolutely beautiful I feel the longing and share in them sometimes when i get an object in a house sale or antique store I can feel emotion coming from it that is what this reminds me of

[Eilis]

I love story comments, Robert. I think the connection you make there at the end is perfect. There are always those kinds of connections that aren’t easy to explain. Like past life hangovers or something.

I was always the hider. I’m professional at hiding, haha. Maybe we could teach each other something. Thanks for the nice comment. I enjoyed reading.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

There is such yearning in this to be at one with the world, to fit it unseen, unobtrusive but with honest respect. The opening stanza sets the scene so well as the protagonist declares their intent. I guess one cannot intellectualise everything but we can consider, think, contemplate, cogitate and take notice as we use out imagination.

[Eilis]

A lovely review, John. I like the way you see this. I do have to let my imagination speak for itself at times.

Thank you, again.

[CD Campbell]

Being a ghost without feeling? Admired out of the corner of the eye then quickly forgotten? I'm sure it's an admired position, but loneliness eventually pervades all things. The river celebrates the trout that swims it's currents. The mountains; it's eagles nest. For each season there is all things and emotions. I have and do feel what you have written above and it is good. It is good as long as the dinghy comes to shore occasionally. CD

P.S. I love the natural flow of this poem with the occasional breaks.

[Eilis]

I don’t know what this is, haha. Sometimes I just write what comes into my head and later ask myself questions. The wisdom you share in your comments is always a highlight for me.

Thanks for your comments, CD. I really appreciate what you had to say in this one.

[CD Campbell]

My reviews are mainly just me trying not to come across as some kind of a*s-hat. I'm glad you appreciate them.

[Eilis]

Haha! Yes, yes. I do

[gram linski]

A yearning to be the wind or be taken by the wind, evocative imagery the idea of the dinghy on the lake was great, I think we all have the wanderlust, that's why our ancestors ended up wherever they did, even the motionless have movement of mind,

[Eilis]

Hi, Gram. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I felt like everything hinged on that dinghy at the end, so I'm glad it stood out. Your last statement there is the spark of a poem itself. I might build on that idea myself.

Appreciate you reading.

[gram linski]

look forward to it with baited eyes what ever the f**k that may mean, lol go for it,

[Eilis]

haha, baited-eyes, love it. That will be my new go-to. I'll see what my wonky imagination can muster up.