Tuesday, October 26, 2021

the puppeteer

 

covers the small stage set

with canvas, his aged hands

folding away wires, strings,

brushes & paints on shelves


clanks


in meticulous beats as his

pocketwatch, precise

as his master list of lists-

autumn night settles in 

with ghostly musty air


his robe is 

immaculate in its whiteness

as he pats the summer's gold coins 

in his pockets,

he closes the room

muttering words only the wind


hears, 


the shop

floorboards heave, a big exhale,

a little movement, here

& there, a twitch & spasm


finally

the puppets are stirring awake

each wrinkled pumpkin face

with zombie eyes

is a flicker of energy

as they search 


scramble


for their chords & clicks

for their sinews & sticks

(where are our memory cards?)

shaking, jerking, falling tragically 

as the moon


watches



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics - Halloweeny Humans hosted by Lisa Fox. 

A commentary on the way social media giants manipulates and spins our lives with algorithms, sending us deep into webs of addictions and superficial lives.  

Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.


22 comments:

  1. What a piece! I read it through once....and I must tell you....I've always thought pupeteers and their marionettes are creepy....then these lines
    "his robe is

    immaculate in its whiteness

    as he pats the summer's gold coins

    in his pockets," yep - creepy.
    I was thinking your pet peeve was the fear or dislike of pupeteers...literally. Similar to how some people have a fear of clowns. So I read it this way...and of course that autumn night with ghostly air....
    THEN I read your comment at the end and read it again. Works PERFECTLY in this reading as well.
    Masterly write, Grace!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is so skilfully written, Grace! The puppeteer is sinister enough as a character, but as an extended metaphor he is truly chilling...

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is deliciously dark and spooky, Grace! This bit stood out in particular for me; "his robe is immaculate in its whiteness as he pats the summer's gold coins in his pockets, he closes the room muttering words only the wind
    hears."💝💝

    ReplyDelete
  4. By abusing their power (however one might define that) they would make puppets of us, wouldn't they?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Grace, truly a haunting poem, and frightening in its reflection of modern times. This part really gets to me:
    his robe is

    "immaculate in its whiteness

    as he pats the summer's gold coins

    in his pockets,

    he closes the room

    muttering words only the wind


    hears,"

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, Grace, this was breathtakingly chilling. The soul-crushing moment that you built up to is the puppet's awakening to brokenness and despair "as the moon watches." A tour de force of a poem. I agree with Lisa, my favorite lines are the ones she chose which are simply a masterful metaphor for his rapacious and heartless nature. Kudos!!
    pax,
    dora

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, this is excellent, and topic well chosen. I like both the writing and the message.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The single word stanzas are like that moment in a quiet house where you stop...

    just in case!

    Very evocative!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh yes, this was brilliant! We really are just puppets aren't we? Allowing social media to pull out strings and do what is commanded. I love the analogy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. perfect analogy Grace, most are oblivious to those strings ... the lines most chose are awesome but this is too sad ..

    "for their chords & clicks

    for their sinews & sticks

    (where are our memory cards?)"

    ReplyDelete
  11. A great one Grace! Love the memory chip line! Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is captivating and so apt for the challenge, Grace. I love "..his master list of lists-" we all know *that* guy--and the final sequence of the puppets is both funny and creepy as well. I think you've ticked all the boxes here.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wonderful wording - you've set the pace, the rhythm, filling it with a weird duality - the anticipation we feel while reading, wanting to know more, and then, 'click click' as the tale continues. It certainly is captivating in its usual twist of plot. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is epic, Grace!!! On my second reading, will do a third. Cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  15. But your images are so much more enchanting that what they are standing in for. If only we could always see what lies beneath what we consume.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my — a failed attempt at mortality, or just a clumsy incarnation of evil? 😏 Loved the mystery here Grace. Well written!

    ReplyDelete
  17. A scathing commentary on how strings are pulled and we have become willing puppets. Excellent.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I saw the puppet dance and then collapse. Bravo. A very vivid write

    much❤love

    ReplyDelete
  19. Manipulation at its creepiest. This is excellent Grace.

    ReplyDelete

I try my best to reciprocate comments and visits.
I allow anonymous comments if you have difficulty posting them. Thank you & have a good day!!!