in the depth of my self-imposed exile
I hear the alarm bell ringing
a cacophony of voices
the living and the dead
wake up Wake Up WAKE UP!!!
and like a missile fired at the din
I am awakened
spiraling up and outward
from this comfortable rabbit hole
in ever expanding circle
as all the personal demons
that nip at my heels
cannot stop me now
until out of the cocoon
and into the frying pan
I stand before you
a genie once more released
but why have you summoned me?
why? - you are a poet
no less deserving of the stage
than any Shakespearean actor
entertain us
then entertain you I shall
but be careful what you wish for
for all that you think of me
all that you say
I cannot hear
for in my poetic guise - madness
I’ll be far away
dreaming of self-imposed exile
Author's Note: The third opening poem in Missing Pieces, following Alien and then Some and Still Others. Written at a time when I was slowly being wooed back to the Ottawa literary scene after a four-year hiatus. Having been active from 1989 to 1994, which garnered both good and bad experiences, I needed time to reassess the degree of my involvement.
This piece is alive!!! with motion and reawakening images, questions and answers, really feels very complete and personal. Gets me out of the winter doldrums, for sure, and interesting to read your notes about your journey with poetry. Thanks, Chris.
