Bleached Eyes

July 30, 2014

Can you taste my lips

while hanging on the moon?

Somewhere out there

is closer than the distance

between your addiction

and I seated at your elbow.

I have forgotten the color

of your eyes…they are bleached

by letters and images scrolling

in your palm…Once I was the light

that drew you, but now I am

a candle without a wick.

Look at me! I am real...No one

has airbrushed my skin, spliced

me into a fantasy, riddled me

with emoticons.

"One is the loneliest number

since you went away"….

©Susie Clevenger 2014

The ending to my poem is a quote from the lyrics of One written by Writer(s): Rip Slyme and Harry Nilsson.

Kerry at Real Toads challenged us with alienation...to really hear and respond. I settled into the alienation the cyber world has created. Thankfully my marriage is blessed to not suffer this electronic alienation.

Kerry Says ~ Can You Hear Me?

Comments

Susan said…

Such a feeling of being shut out by the addict. I can totally relate. Your images clarify the distance and the empty ears.

July 30, 2014 at 12:22 PM

avalon said…

It could so easily happen. Especially between parent and teenaged child.Addiction is the right word.

July 30, 2014 at 2:05 PM

Hannah said…

I, too, find that I'm not in the number that live that reality. You capture well the ingredients for such separation and loneliness, Susie.

July 30, 2014 at 2:55 PM

Sherry Blue Sky said…

Those opening lines are a great hook, Susie......when I go out, I am astounded at people sitting beside each other, especially parents and children, each plugged into their tiny screens - no one laughing, cracking jokes, no one noticing the blossoms, the sunshine, the ripples on the water........sigh. "Once I was the light that drew you, now I am a candle without a wick." So well done.

July 30, 2014 at 8:52 PM

scotthastiepoet said…

Hi Susie, I agree with Sherry - powerful opening lines, though I took this to be about about a lover, rather than a child?

July 31, 2014 at 1:35 AM

Kathryn Dyche said…

I really love this Susie. Heart wrenching how electronic communication has alienated us.

July 31, 2014 at 6:31 AM

Kerry O'Connor said…

This is very real commentary, Susie. I read an article recently which says couples spend more time touching their phones than they do each other. It is a huge problem, and likely to get worse in the near future.

July 31, 2014 at 9:08 AM