Tuesday in dVerse Poets Pub means it's time for Poetics!! Melissa shares several of René Magritte's paintings, inspiration for us as we compose our poems.
Magritte got the name for this painting from his poet friend Louis Scutenaire who often helped him find names for his paintings. In this case, the name Golconda refers to a city in India, which was the seat for two different kingdoms from the 14th to 17th centuries.
Golconda ~ 1953
in city streets
these figures swarm
each face a mask
each soul a form
behind facade
of wealth's embrace
deep longing
for a quiet place
in midst of chaos
they search for more
outshine the neighbor
settle a score
in the rush
to rise above
losing sight
of all they love
Weird the way we can all become cookie-cutter versions of each other. Three cheers for standing out, as you always do, Helen.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment!!! And your comment!!!
DeleteFacades masks and chaos. Sounds like our society today. Great poem, Helen.
ReplyDeleteCertainly is! Thanks so much for the comment.
DeleteDearest Helen,
ReplyDeleteThis is such a perfect poem about the rush to rise above... Indeed therefore losing sight of all they love!
Hugs,
Mariette
You captured the irony of it Helen - in the rush to search for more and settle the score, we lost sight of what is important in our life - love most specially.
ReplyDeleteIrony ... yes! Thanks so much for leaving a comment!
DeleteIn our rush to conform, we forget who we are. So true.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the herd never a good thing!
DeleteThe race to be ahead takes its toll. Most always does.
ReplyDelete..
Yep, you are right on target!
DeleteI like the rhyme and rhythm of your poem, Helen, and the hint of despair in the lines:
ReplyDelete‘behind facade
of wealth's embrace
deep longing
for a quiet place’.
Faces like masks, and trying to conform and get ahead, people do lose
ReplyDelete"sight
of all they love"
Well-written, Helen, and so true.
I appreciate your comment! Happy Wednesday ...
DeleteBeautiful poem inspired by René Magritte and so true. The price of success... Have a good Spring.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for leaving a comment!
ReplyDeleteWe all try to be different and rising above all others but end up being just the same.
ReplyDeleteA sorry state of affairs all those folks trying in vain. Thank you for the comment!
ReplyDelete“each face a mask
ReplyDeleteeach soul a form”
Indeed, many people are so afraid to be who they are. We are all very much the same. Humility is understanding one’s place in the world.
Thank you for leaving such an insightful comment, I do love his paintings.
ReplyDelete"search for more
ReplyDeleteoutshine the neighbor"
This is very true, Helen .:) Lovely.
Thank you so much for reading ... leaving me a comment!
Delete"each face a mask
ReplyDeleteeach soul a form" - I love this. Such a powerful effect.
Thank you for reading, leaving a comment. I was unable to leave you a comment but enjoyed your poem immensely.
DeleteThis deep and cynical take on "keeping up with the Joneses" cuts straight to the chase. What are we living for?
DeleteThat's a searing but truthful comment on what we all have become! A powerful write, Helen.
ReplyDelete