Leaving Slowly - Fears of Unknowing

by Larry Chamberlin   Jul 15, 2015


"Where is my phone?
I've looked in every room
It's simply gone,"
"It's here, dad,
you're carrying it around,"
Such patience she has
restoring misplaced
parts of my world.

Things slip away;
people's faces swim up
but I lost the thread;
they don't fit the puzzle
no matter how hard
I try to force them
into spaces that
have wrong shapes,

Days are better than night;
sun lets me get involved,
activity is good
keeps the restless hands
of my mind too busy
to realize what the empty
nights reveal:
The edge is closer.

I cannot roam today
as far as yesterday
and for the life of me
I cannot remember
why I'm writing this
down.

6


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Latest Comments

  • 8 years ago

    by Meme

    Weekly Contest Judging comment:
    -----------------------------------------

    Sigh...
    Oh Larry, sometimes your poems hit my hard so hard that I find it hard to recover from, and this is one of those times. I knew what to expect from the poem just by reading the titles, I hesitated but then decided to read it.
    I know age and life has a lot to do with it but still I never saw you in that light, as being tired or simply exhausted. Am used to the funny serious side of you so to have a glimpse of whats going on in your head just gave me a sense of sadness. We are so lucky to have someone like you in here..

  • 8 years ago

    by Dancing Rivers

    Alas I wish that were the truth in my case but it isn't. You see in my case I've never had stability, at least not in the fifteen years since my mother died. But that's another tale for another time haha

  • 8 years ago

    by Dancing Rivers

    Thank you for this Larry.
    I know how you feel, to be leaving somewhere and stepping into the unknown on a regular basis, it's not easy and it never will be, though in only 19 and shouldn't know these things, it seems these things have been what my life has been built on

    • 8 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      We all suffer from this feeling from time to time, Hazel. When you're young I believe it's more because there are so many different forces pulling you each way that you become distracted. I would not worry about it so much; just learn to tune out those distractions that do you no good. You'll be fine.

  • 8 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Such a brilliantly abrupt and sad last stanza.
    A wonderful write and deserved win, Larry.

    • 8 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      Thank you. And congratulations yourself.

      I had the last four lines come to me falling asleep. The rest of the poem wrote itself.

  • 8 years ago

    by Everlasting

    O_O

    "Where is my phone?
    I've looked in every room
    It's simply gone,"
    "It's here, dad,
    you're carrying it around,"
    Such patience she has
    restoring misplaced
    parts of my world.

    ^ That happened with my glasses, but also on another occasion with a pencil. Turns out I had them both in my head, I just ... well, I forgot. O_O

    It happens whenever I have too many thoughts on my head. I get distracted by them that I don't pay attention to my surroundings.
    Not the best feeling to realize that they felt lost but that in reality they weren't.

    I like the part were activity is mentioned. Being active helps to keep the mind focused, less distracted by unknowing thoughts.

    • 8 years ago

      by Larry Chamberlin

      I almost did not put that part in because it happens to us all. But being distracted affects us at all ages.
      My friend never remembers - always needs guidance

      Thank you, Luce.

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