Cave Dweller
Light frightens her, it seems.
It must be that –
how she cowers and shrieks
when exposed to illumination.
What else
could so dispose her
then to attack?
I don’t know, even so,
if what she hates and fears
is what she sees outside
when the light
shines to reveal ...
or the thought
of herself being seen.
Either way,
she‘d stay in darkness
rather than face the bright.
I have no energy left
to rescue the reluctant,
nor even leave a sign.
I merely fend her off.
The bold roses
and shining leaves,
the trees against the sky –
and the sky! –
think how much she misses.
But, formed by lowered lids,
clouds are in her eyes.
Shared at Rommy’s ‘Weekly Scribblings: New Tricks’ at Poets and Storytellers United
We who with songs beguile your pilgrimage /
And swear that Beauty lives though lilies die, /
We Poets of the proud old lineage /
Who sing to find your hearts, we know not why ...
(James Elroy Flecker)
That is the sad part of having pets, their short lives isn't it? But I don't regret any pet my wife and I had over the last 50-60 years as their love for us was so sincere.
ReplyDeleteRobin, I wasn't writing about a pet. This 'dog' who wouldn't learn was a person I had in mind.
DeleteDebilitating fear like that is a terrible thing. I have to agree that sometimes it's not worth trying to help someone go outside, when all you have the bruises and scratches from past attempts to show for it. I might be the fool that keeps trying every now and again though, but from a safer distance away, and not making it a high priority.
ReplyDeletePoor critter, modern ways have sapped her and the defenders' energies away. Where is help now?
ReplyDeleteThere is a sadsadn in the land.
..
definitely not a day bird, that one. Happy Wednesday Rosemary
ReplyDeletemuch love...
I once visited someone while in Germany. She hated it there. Yet, she had never left the military base in which she lived. She seemed depressed and unwilling to change her view, to see Europe.
ReplyDeleteYour poem reminded me of her as well as the denial that sometimes keeps us from accepting truth and seeing light.
Loved your poem. So insightful.
Vivid images...
ReplyDeletecompelling, and makes one ponder.
No one can force self-closed eyes to see. Not even if we peel their lids open. Everyone just ends up exhausted and frustrated, and the eyeballs in question will still see nothing (that they haven't chosen to see).
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad how someone can wrap themselves up and close off from the world. It seems self inflicted but maybe circumstances being what they are... I hope she would see the sun again someday.
ReplyDeleteI imagine your poem might mean different things to different people, Rosemary. I see someone traumatised by terrible events. The final stanza is so sad.
ReplyDeleteyes the reluctant need not be paid attention
ReplyDeleteI find fears cannot easily be understood if at all.
ReplyDelete