Lost soul riding a lightning strike!
Damning thunder slips shudders
through a tormented, hammered
city. God, you know the damage
such a one wreaks – the tears,
the torment that the so-called
innocent face. But who? Who
are innocent, truly?
Not me, for certain!
Damned for the truth, I know
my guilt, and I plead guilty
before the judge. Long ago
the verdict was given, fairly.
That’s me, damn straight!
When did my own purity not
reek? When did my righteous
strivings not offend the heavens?
I ride Satan’s lightning, laughing –
bitterly laughing.
I have been cast from hell – cast
away from the gates. Not one
within will recognize the soul
that has been lost to them!
My sentence is wearying – bear
the burden of the freed. Carry
the suffering of joy. Learning
love’s demand; become strong
in my own weakness.
Take the ridicule of intelligent,
reasoning others, and proffer
kindness, mercy, and sympathy.
Captive me, a soul lost to self.
Posted at dVerse for Poetics.
Charley. You have shone a dangerous truth here. You have done so with skill, pathos and soul. Without a shadow of a doubt my favourite poem of yours. Ever. Stunning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir! I have been locked in a dungeon of writing lately, scraping the pen until my voice is hoarse. I’m glad a bit of it shows.
LikeLike
Seriously top draw mate. Drums behind the bar 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Paul, this goes deep deep… when I read your poem I thought about Dante’s image of being caught in limbo… the area reserved for those neither ready for heaven nor hell.
LikeLike
An interesting mythology! Don’t know how that plays out in reality, though.
LikeLike
“Not one within will recognize the soul that has been lost to them!”
Now that has to be the greatest torment of them all, making me think one experiences greatest suffering in purgatory…
I remember when that album came out sometime when I was in high school. Watching this video brings back a memory I thought about while listening to that song played with the San Francisco Symphony. I pitied the orchestra, used to playing such intricate music of the past four centuries, exercising their souls on their instruments. Sure Hatfield is letting it all out here, but with all those sustained notes on the strings it must be hard to keep up the energy. However, I do like the effect, just wish it wasn’t the rock bands that keep symphonic music “relevant.”
LikeLike
Maybe it’s the other way round – classical musicians keeping them relevant. Thanks, Amaya.
LikeLike
I liked that stanza contrasting reason and mercy.
LikeLike
Thank you, Frank! It was an intriguing write. A mind of its own.
LikeLike
Reminds me of the old cowboy tune, Ghost Riders in the Sky.
LikeLike
Really? I remember it more by a Southern-fried rock group called The Outlaws … and, of course, The Blues Brothers. But that never entered my mind when I was writing this. Thank you, though! Back to YouTube!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Charley 😁
LikeLike
You are welcome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
This is packed with a great deal, Charley. Allusions are only the tip of the iceberg. The burden and the required response are so exacting and accurate. Strong in one’s own weakness and the ridicule of the opposition – clear images made here. I agree with Paul – this is one of your best. Outstanding writing!
LikeLike
Thank you, Jilly! High praise from two excellent poets… and readers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This soul scorched bolt burns the page as we read. “Lost soul riding a lightning strike!” is probably your best image ever. I want way, way more of that.
LikeLike
Yeah, but I left out the coffee! Thank you! Lost souls ride lightning bolts. It’s in the handbook. Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I googled that and came up with this. Must be that other handbook! “Man in Sears special nylon suit hitchhikes across continent ten times dancing on Devil Tower in black rain weaving lightning bolts into airplanes.”
LikeLike
Seriously though, let me know where that is, wasn’t something I knew about and want to read in-line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never trust Google. Stop relying on Wickiepedia!
LikeLike
My favourite lines: “My sentence is wearying – bear
the burden of the freed. Carry
the suffering of joy. Learning
love’s demand; become strong
in my own weakness.”
Wonderful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Lessons of a life lived. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Wow, that was some ride! I felt like I was inside the mind trying to find soul recovery. Brilliant!
LikeLike
The soul searching for itself! A very nice twist! Cool Music!
dwight
LikeLike
I love the brave shape, Charley, and the exciting opening line which immediately drew me into the poem..
There’s a lot of sound and movement and the asides are effective.After reading it, I thought, ‘Better out than in!’ Those demons won’t release themselves. And thanks for the burst of one of my favourite Metallica songs beside ‘One’.
LikeLike
“When did my own purity not
reek? When did my righteous
strivings not offend the heavens?”
Really strong images… hypocrisy is rife amongst the ‘righteous’!
LikeLike
Soul-skorching and piercing to the marrow, Charley! I’m with Paul and Jilly: this is one of your best!
LikeLike
No SouL FuLLy
LiVeS aS LiGHT
UnTiL A SHaDoW
iS FounD
SunG
DanceD
WiTH iN DeLiGHT..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure..:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reading your about page, I see many Alan Parsons songs posted (by you and others). Here’s a favorite of mine: https://youtu.be/iPgzfxdQ7cg
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for sharing Charley.. So much meaning in songs of older.. fortunately those songs continue to live as a treasure to be shared by those who give art free..
As YouTube is an amazing Avenue to truly enrich souls in Art that speaks Deeper..:)
LikeLike
Wow, just wow.
LikeLike
Thank you! It says much.
LikeLike
What an incredible poem, Charley! I felt like my soul was up for grabs in circles of hell. Stunning!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! That’s kind of how it felt writing it. Glad it worked!
LikeLike
I felt the torture but my favourite bit is this
Take the ridicule of intelligent,
reasoning others, and proffer
kindness, mercy, and sympathy.
It held its martyrdom well.
XX
LikeLike
I’m glad you found something to like. It was arduous to write, amazing to read … seeing as it came from me, and difficult to post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a journey that is complex as so many are. XX
LikeLike