I Never Planned for Fading

Art by Karin Gustafson 

Perched on my toadstool throne
I contemplate my realm
of weeds and rodents.

I had petitioned the gods
for a crown, a purple robe and
to rule an ice cream summer kingdom.

Oh, the curse of dreams that
only see with water color eyes.
I never planned for fading.

I was told my golden road was a carrot
selfish could never reach…There’s
no magic in a tongue of sticks and stones.

Blame is hard grain to chew,
so I self medicate with tears
poured from my violin.

©Susie Clevenger 2017

The perfect accompaniment to self pity is Aase's Death from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1. I've had one or two pity parties lately. I think making myself the cry baby in my own poem is cathartic. Nothing goes well with whine except..perhaps..of course..humor.



Comments

Magaly Guerrero said…
"There’s
no magic in a tongue of sticks and stones."

So true. Tongues should be made of everything...
Outlawyer said…
What a wonderful poem for this picture. It is so effective. The only thing is that you are the last person I would consider as self-pitying-- you have a lot of moxy as well as creativity. Thanks for your poem. K.
Anonymous said…
A truly touching moment. (hopefully the violin brought hoe)
Jim said…
Certainly not what she expected--what to fo, what to do? A fun-reading I-wanna-help lament.
..
Sanaa Rizvi said…
'I was told my golden road was a carrot selfish could never reach…There’s no magic in a tongue of sticks and stones,' love the voice in this poem, so beautifully wise and potent.
Kim M. Russell said…
I love the lines:
'Oh, the curse of dreams that
only see with water color eyes.
I never planned for fading.'
Brendan said…
You can't really savor pity -- what's the point of crying without out? -- unless you can really hold on to what you don't want to admit and thus give up. This jag is brilliant with the colors that tears ironically erase. Good stuff.
ayala said…
A moving and beautiful poem.
Kerry O'Connor said…
The third stanza is pivotal, i think, in conveying the message. Self-pity is a negative emotion but I am sure we have all been there at one time or another.
Fireblossom said…
Ohhh, those last two stanzas! Love me some Susie Poet!
kaykuala said…
Blame is hard grain to chew,
so I self medicate with tears
poured from my violin

Music is a reasonable way out in many instances!

Hank
Wonderful line: Blame is a hard grain to chew. And I love the fairytale context.
Jae Rose said…
A beautiful lament - much more than a pity party!
Anonymous said…
What they all said ^^^
Superb writing and such a potent subject.
tonispencer said…
'Oh, the curse of dreams that
only see with water color eyes.
I never planned for fading.' I don't think any of us plan on fading, that we think we will be young forever. Self-pity is truly a negative emotion but writing about it is so cathartic and cleansing. I've been having a proper pity party myself. Now I guess it's time I quit and get to doing again. Loved this poem.
Agree with Fireblossom. Those last two stanzas were amazing.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
I adore every word, line and image! Spectacular!
Sreeja said…
Such a wonderful poem...great lines!!
Marian said…
Watercolor eyes! Yes!
grapeling said…
well, i figure no one else pities me, so I'm ok with a pity party of one, every so often.