We have spoken highly of procrastination on M3. It seems Mantra agrees procrastination is a good thing. This particular poem is not what you expect out of her, for more than just a couple of reasons.
One
This style of poem is not usually on display on M3. As a matter of fact, I can only find one other poem with a similar scheme in nearly 30 years of poetry.
Two
While this poem barely rates as a medium in terms of the length of poem I prefer to write, it is longer than most Mantra brings to the fore. Mayhap, before I get to the end of the reasons, I may convince myself this is merely my thoughts in rhyme.
Three
This poem contains no real frivolity…unless you consider the administration justice to be frivolous. Which is not to say it is humorless.
Okay. I admit it. This is what I really think, but in rhyme. We will let Mantra sulk because I have hijacked her day.
Though simply titled, Not Today is a detailed look at retaliation through nothing more than being sincere. It is an act of Karma. Ironically, even those who do not believe the carousel ever truly makes it all the way around can find justice in the end of this poem.
Not Today
There are not many reasons why I’d venture into the fray.
Like so many others before, today is not the day.
The hackles stand high as I listen to the words
Spoken not softly, clumped together in herds.
They’re drum beats of a thousand tinny snares
Yet, insufficient to drown out my daily cares,
Which tug at my memories and wrench my heart,
Pulling at nerves, giving a jolting start.
Seeking solace and silence, I retreat again
Into darkened corridors, for it to begin.
The raising of the curtain on the drama unending,
Which threatens my sanity. It is mind bending.
The contortion of convoluted crap.
The bottomless pit of a miring trap.
Lies, bigotry, charlatans: One and all.
Somehow never righteously slipping to fall
Into their own waste-strewn dumpsters,
But inviting us to toxic waters
To steep in their self-aggrandized muck,
With the diabolical wish we’d get stuck
With one free hand holding a rope
To satisfy our undying hope
Of escape from the slime,
While at the same time
From the other end loose
They tie a tight noose
To drape ’round our throat,
Bidding us, “Don’t choke.”
On the sugarcoated pellets of deception
Sweetly poisoning our skewed perception
Of the non-reality they create,
Breeding discord and hate.
There are not many reasons why I’d venture into the fray.
Like so many others before, today is not the day.
For in my other clenched fist
Is an ever-growing list
Of those who shall never see
Even the slightest shadow of me
Darkening their theatres of contrivance.
In their ill-borne efforts to advance,
I become a silent stumbling block,
Appearing at every window, door and lock.
Oh, but not as overt as that may seem,
For you see, in all interests will my effort teem,
Not at the hands of my presence or joining,
But at my insistent remote interjecting
Of truth amidst the half-truths and lies
Which inevitably open others’ eyes
To the constant stream of uselessness
Shoveled without consciousness
By the purveyors and eradicators alike.
Yet, in the end, it is truly a spike
I’d rather drive through your empty heart
Because your head is a stone, hard and dark.
Instead, I choose not to stoop down,
Choose a knowing grin over the frown.
For in the denouement of the play,
It is I the curtain call to pay.
Indeed the victory is sweet,
With you beneath my feet
Crushed by the weight of your doing
Naught by my fervent eschewing.
For you should have listened to
The original warning I gave you.
There are not many reasons why I’d venture into the fray.
Like so many others before, today is not the day.
220420121836
spilledinkguy
/ April 23, 2012Incredible, Red!
Fray or no fray you’ve definitely made my day!
(Too much Dirty Harry? Is that even possible?!)
😉
spilledinkguy recently posted..Donut No. 3
Red
/ April 23, 2012After I wrote that (Dirty Harry) I wondered the same thing 😉
Tess Kann
/ April 23, 2012You’re a tough cookie. Nice.
Red
/ April 23, 2012*curtsies sweetly*
MJ Logan
/ April 23, 2012Nephew is watching The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly…
Interesting…
MJ Logan recently posted..Fly-In Adventure Chapter 1
Red
/ April 23, 2012That is the ringback on my cell!
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
/ April 23, 2012Red, this is a beautiful, beautiful piece of work, a distinctive poem that says a lot. Tough, strong, and singularly minded . Deep hearted. Deep vengeance available at the chosen time. Almost diabolical. “Make my day” sounds right.
Oh well, as long as you like cookies….”:)) ~R
Raymond Alexander Kukkee recently posted..U is for Useful
Red
/ April 23, 2012I did not have the Dirty Harry feel until I got to the end of it and read it ;P
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
/ April 24, 2012I don’t know about what condition you were in when you read it. Must have been a revelation…I know, the Muse wrote it.You just read it.
I’m just interpolating the data and dodging the bullets from the .44 …
I’ll make your day, have a cookie, Red Harry! “:)))
Raymond Alexander Kukkee recently posted..U is for Useful
Red
/ April 24, 2012Oh, no. Mantra does not get credit for this one. I did not even put pencil to paper for this one. I opened a blog screen and immediately began typing. I was in the middle of something completely different when this one started. It took me while to get out of the annoying other tabs to get it done, but Mantra was on the bench for this one.
And do not make me angry when I am armed. I am a very, seriously good shot. 😉
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
/ April 24, 2012You mean you’re hot-blooded, hot-tempered AND a good shot? Great combination. “:)
Raymond Alexander Kukkee recently posted..W is for Winning
Red
/ April 25, 2012I happen to think so.
Lizzie Cracked
/ April 23, 2012too much Dirty Harry ..Woman are you Mad? Mad say! Lol.. guess that answers that question.
Drama ..sometimes can’t be avoided but I would think you speak of the kind that can be? I roll my eyes… I used to be very sympathetic because I think because in my mind it signaled some need ..needing to be met. But lately I have been subjected to so much drama from one person that ..I think my give a damn broke.. for real.
I don’t know I seem to be going through some weird shift in my ..way of thinking? relating? something.. but I have found myself uncharacteristically … rolling my eyes…
One of the reasons I am very reluctant to reach out when I am a mess is that I don’t want to be a drama queen…
But I am a terrible procrastinator..
Lovely poem..
Lizzie <3
Lizzie Cracked recently posted..Monday MeMe(me..me..) Mid-Afternoon Mental Moment
Red
/ April 23, 2012Rolling my eyes is second nature. But if I really am irritated, I roll them one at a time. My givadam has been busted a long time. And when you ask because you are on the slide, that is not drama…it is need. Drama needs and deserves zero sympathy. I am an excellent procrastinator! Figure that one out 😉
Raymond Alexander Kukkee
/ April 25, 2012Red, I hereby invite you to join Procrastinators RUs, you’ll fit right in.
Drama we don’t need it’s a p.i.a. and there is nothing that annoys me more than self-serving dramatists breathing the same air… my ‘ givadam’ broke many years ago, I think smack’em and whack’em and stack’em is what we need.
Raymond Alexander Kukkee recently posted..W is for Winning
Red
/ April 26, 2012I have long since taken you up on that offer, Ray. Yes, drama is always a PITA. Your theory is very close to a Marine theme: Kill them all. Let God sort them out. 😉
Lizzie Cracked
/ April 23, 2012I seem to be dropping words and slightly redundant tonight as well.. sorry 🙂
Lizzie Cracked recently posted..Monday MeMe(me..me..) Mid-Afternoon Mental Moment
Red
/ April 23, 2012No apologies here. I would spend hours apologizing if I did not have edit capability! <3
valentine logar
/ April 23, 2012Meanwhile I think I kicked you in the ankles lashing out because I was angry at others for hurting people I loved. I should always ask first if they need my defense….I forget sometimes I am not a white knight, but forgetfulness is a sign of age.
Loved this even for the reminder I am still jumping in with both feet.
valentine logar recently posted..Sunshine Days
Red
/ April 23, 2012Pish tosh. This was merely for something I witnessed. It boils in me the same ferocity I have when I am in the fire pit with it. It appears my frustration was higher than I had first gauged it. I rather look at it as an accomplishment. I vented it without chewing on anyone’s neck 😉
prenin
/ April 24, 2012Nice piece Red! 🙂
Time to wreak some havoc on the world – but today is not the day…
I don’t know about Dirty Harry, but the poem speaks volumes about holding your temper! 🙂
I never let drama queens disturb me – I looked after one who used to reward her dog’s stealing of her food by throwing it on the floor!!! 🙁
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Monday – the muse strikes.
Red
/ April 24, 2012The dog or the food?
prenin
/ April 25, 2012The food! LoL!!! 🙂
I tried to stop her doing it and chased the dog out of the house when it did it, but there’s no easy way to stop a dog once it’s learned a bad habit…
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Tuesday – My ISA opens.
Red
/ April 25, 2012LOL! They can be little stinkers with the begging. I think it is far easier to just put the dog out when it is time to eat! {HUGZ} Red.
Deb
/ April 24, 2012I don’t think it’s possible to have too much Dirty Harry! Hey, so far everything your write, I admire.
You’re as tough as I ever thought.
HUGZ xx
Deb recently posted..Earth Day
Red
/ April 24, 2012It is so good to know I am in the company of so many Harry fans…and not Potter. 😉
{HUGZ}
Red.
xxx
Androgoth
/ April 24, 2012Now that is what I call a kick-ass posting, of course Dirty Harry would just blow them away with that big Colt.45 of his but as for being too dirty, nooooo just about right me thinks 🙂
Have a great evening Red 🙂
Androgoth XXX
Red
/ April 25, 2012Good. I thought it may have been a bit over the top. Some days…you just get lucky 😉
Androgoth
/ April 26, 2012Yes but not those Punks 🙁 lol
Have a fun rest of evening Red
and thank you for mentioning
the ‘Like’ option as I never even
realised that it had gone 🙂 lol
Androgoth XXx
Red
/ April 26, 2012Any time 😉