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.
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
ReplyDelete"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!
This is so skilfully written, Grace! The puppeteer is sinister enough as a character, but as an extended metaphor he is truly chilling...
ReplyDeleteThis 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
ReplyDeletehears."💝💝
By abusing their power (however one might define that) they would make puppets of us, wouldn't they?
ReplyDeleteGrace, truly a haunting poem, and frightening in its reflection of modern times. This part really gets to me:
ReplyDeletehis 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,"
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!!
ReplyDeletepax,
dora
Oh, this is excellent, and topic well chosen. I like both the writing and the message.
ReplyDeleteThe single word stanzas are like that moment in a quiet house where you stop...
ReplyDeletejust in case!
Very evocative!
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.
ReplyDeleteperfect analogy Grace, most are oblivious to those strings ... the lines most chose are awesome but this is too sad ..
ReplyDelete"for their chords & clicks
for their sinews & sticks
(where are our memory cards?)"
Amazing writing !
ReplyDeleteA great one Grace! Love the memory chip line! Well done.
ReplyDeleteThis 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.
ReplyDeleteWonderful 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.
ReplyDeleteThis is epic, Grace!!! On my second reading, will do a third. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteBut 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.
ReplyDeleteOh my — a failed attempt at mortality, or just a clumsy incarnation of evil? 😏 Loved the mystery here Grace. Well written!
ReplyDeleteA scathing commentary on how strings are pulled and we have become willing puppets. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteI saw the puppet dance and then collapse. Bravo. A very vivid write
ReplyDeletemuch❤love
Very spooky
ReplyDeleteVery spooky
ReplyDeleteManipulation at its creepiest. This is excellent Grace.
ReplyDelete