Monday, August 10, 2009

Soul Ransom


Hostage-takers hang out on the avenue
Watching for that tell-tale spark
Between who you are and how they see you
They will capture your essence, Photoshop your scars
Place you in light filled room
Open for display in a celebrity-shaped vase

While encased in a block of solid metal alloy
The source of all your words
Takes comfort from the illusionary ploy
Executed by agents bereft of worthwhile portfolio
But versed in the black arts
Of extracting the meaning from all that you know

And all that you see on this lost horizon
Is the jagged coast of yesterday
Where pirates’ coves of dark surmising
Fly ripped black flags of skull and bones
Call to ships of memory
In voices dredged from erogenous zones

Places where the tide line glows plankton rich
In sentences fashioned from soap
While competitors legs upturned kick from the spirit ditch
No license required to catch these crustaceans
Not for the net-work-king
These trains don’t stop at low-rent stations

So pay the ransom, meet them in the alleyway
Watched by ignored CCTV
And don’t pretend you have a thing to say
Your voice transcended by cash machines
Isn’t nearly strong enough
To break through the patina of plastic dreams

10 comments:

Libertine said...

Absolutely fantastic picture of our plastic world. Love it.

Mariana Soffer said...

Excelent poem as always, I am amazed by the follwing lines
"But versed in the black arts
Of extracting the meaning from all that you know" I want people who can do that so I can direct them thowards whoever I want, do you know them by any chance?
And you are right, it is all about cash machines, they can transcend anything in this world they are the ultimate power, dought people do not want to realize that.
take care pi

Yodood said...

It happens most glaringly, glamorously in the entertainment business but everyone ransoms their soul whenever it seems like a good idea to have themselves be taken care of, from a lifetime sugar daddy/mama through 12 step support groups to the ultimate human prosthetic, the "life coach."

You nailed the "actor only" aspect of the professional celebrity devoid of an outlet for original thought while issuing scripted words for hush money.

Barlinnie said...

Intricate and nicely complex. The visuals only add to its magnificence.

In Glesga terms... pure-dead-brilliant.

Garth said...

Libertine: thanks!

Mariana: "extracting the meaning from all that you know" just watch a little television, that should do it ;]

Yodood: "life coach" just what we need: who needs to think for themselves anyway?

Jimmy: at the risk of annoying Yodood: Thanks pal :D

Yodood said...

Pisces, what could you possibly mean?

Garth said...

Dood: just a little dig referring to your comment on my previous post :D

the walking man said...

but I like my tabloid time in the supermarket check out lane while waiting to pay for my food that has been altered to an artificial state that I can sit in front of my 48" flat screen TV eating while watching E television.

Yodood said...

Pisces, I knew that, I just don't understand why you think I would have to wake up in a bad mood or be annoyed to make the observation of damning with faint praise. Actually I had a mischevious grin on my face the whole time I was posting the comment.

I actually wasn't going to comment here but saw the word verificaton and had to, just to note it:
crophic - one whose reality tunnel is curtailed by Photoshopping with prejudice.

Garth said...

Walking Man: life is good :}

Yodood: the mischievious grin was noted and returned "mr. grumpy" :B
Photoshopping with prejudice I gotta get me some of that!

Bookshop

Buy this book on Lulu. Kindle Version
Kindle Version
© Garth Erickson. Powered by Blogger.

Followers

Page Ranking Tool
Creative Commons License