I wrote the story of my life but never once did I stop to read it.
Words, plots, characters gushed out of me, yet never once did I take the time to see
If the words were apt, if the plot had inner consistency, if the characters were realistic and likeable.
Not once did I peruse the footnotes and attempt to research further the story I was writing.
Not once did I check for for the minor spelling and grammar errors nor contemplated whether indeed the whole construction of my work-in-progress was fundamentally flawed from the very first word on the very first page.
Never once did I pay heed to the better advice of my elders, to keep a constant tone to my novel, to not portray realism as fantasy, to not turn tragedy into comedy.
But recklessly I mixed passages of horror with passages of humour, blended magic realism with surrealism and clumsily juxtaposed soaring poetry with indifferent pedestrianism.
Not once did I look back to see if my story made any sense, leaving it instead to others to try and make sense of the story of my life.
And so preoccupied was I with the writing of this book that I forgot all about existence and my life instead became this book itself.
And now as I come to the final page, I think to myself:
Is there still time enough to begin the book anew?
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Comments: 28
I don't think you get to start the book anew... but you can always start a new chapter.
And thank you Flit and Karen for your comments also.
I'm a strong advocate of repetition and so I very much appreciate that element in this work. I'm finding the lack of personal detail, though there is personal admission, to lessen the impact that this work might otherwise have.
I wonder about casting this into a pantoum or villanelle?
I very much loved the title and that is what attracted me to this in the first place. Do you plan to work with it more?
I didn't plan on working more with this poem ( it already has been published in that particular form in a magazine ) but I will take your comments on board and have a think about them.
I wonder if you would enjoy Bertrand Tavernier's film A Sunday in the Country. It's a slow-moving British drama about a painter who isn't really living his life, and his daughter, who lives hers to the hilt.
For me, whether the story so far made sense or not, it was MY story and I cherish it. :)
"so preoccupied with" That passage reminds me of those who spend all energy on existing , leaving none for LIVING........... I know you know what I mean, Boris...................(((On the last page, I would write :End of book one,Book two in print now,lol)))
Somehow I find a connection between this and your other writing. Sometimes we look out the window without truly living. This piece reminds me to be mindful and live in the moment without any restrictions. Thank you for posting to our group. I loved hearing this read on the taped radio recording. Your work is now featured, of course.
Wow Boris, this seems just so familiar. Did I read this one before (S2M). Really loved reading it! Actually it really does sound familiar, this time I am not being silly.
what does S2M mean Chana? I posted this poem 2 years ago on Gather so it's quite possible that you have seen it before! Glad you like it!
Ahhhhhhhhhh, I see you have not been reading Tomas. I saw that in one of his comments and it cracked me up. It means snicker 2 myself. He offered it as an alternative to LOL. He is funny!
At first (before the space) I was being silly because I just read it on FB. But thinking about it, it really does sound familiar. It resonates. You have captured life here.
Returning your e-mail.
Signed: Edgar Soren Allan Kierkegaard Poe (S2M-A & LOL!)
thank you for that explication Chana Kierkegaard, really glad it resonated with you.
You are most welcome Mr. J.D. Jean-Paul Salinger-Satre!
(a goose, a goose, gallivanting on a grave...)
weighty material, as is thy usual wont.
those who cannot relate...merely function at Low Ebb.
what can ya do.
this is all journeys--the roads not taken, the ones less traveled, the ones traveled with needless timidness.
Ahhhhhhhhhhh, timidness. I don't think anyone would accuse you Tomas of being timid, maybe demure, but never timid!
thank you Thomas for your comments, good to see you back on Gather!