Birthday Candle
October 19, 2009 by hames-1977
There will be a single spark of light.
But not from the stars. Because even them,
they have shied away and have forgotten.
Here, only from my birthday candle
casting shadows waltzing the wall
and the chilly wind whistling a tune,
sending wisps of wishes, for tonight.
While the rest of the world snoozes
in its deafening silence. Getting used
with the normalcy of tragedies.
And in their lukewarm sympathies.
In the quiet corner of the city, littered
and battered of the rain-drenched
images of chaos and shattered hopes,
on the table a bowl of rice
and a can of sardine. In a color
charcoaled space, I breath as a man
determined to celebrate my existence
among the ruins with this twist of fate.
I shifted my gaze from the table
to the broken windows and watch
the passing of the storm clouds
in the evening sky. I am happy
but no sound of laughter. Hearing
the incessant drop of water
from a leaking roof. Contented
among the shadows. Decided
to bury the hatchet of what is past.
Gathering what’s left after the storm.
As I dream of patching the tattered
and pock-marked walls, then hide
the traces of mud in fresh white paint.
Believing nature has a way to let people
start anew. De-cluttering my life of things
that entangle men of never-ending want.
Until now, when I had less.
Very profound, Marvin!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
The thundering laughter could sometimes be with no sound, the sound of pure joy echoes within the walls of the heart. I wish you that kind of joy, and may hear that kind of laughter in moments of solitude.
I like this poem for I felt the same longing and that certain kind of silence living abroad, away from family, intesified when celebrating special occasions alone.
But more than that, it is noteworthy that you added more volume to the poem sprinkling it with issues beyond the obvious making the poem multi-layered like in a cake rich with tastes that sting the emotion depending on which part of the slice a reader takes the bite.
I’ve been laborously writing a piece about my 3rd year anniversary here in Chicago, still unfinished and is overdue already but I hope I could post it before october ends. I should just have written it in poetry instead of writing it in prose.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
happy birthday marvin. all the best ahead. and many more poems to write.
happy birthday marvin. i don’t but i had a hard time posting my first comment.
all the best