Every prophecy of fame
end in a dried up claim
I hang my head in vain
in unbearable shame.
When will I adorn myself
with robes of royalty?
When will my head wear a crown
that my black heart yearns for?
How long will I linger
on unholy crossroads?
How long will I dream of sweet wine
while holding cups of moonshine?
I sense my sadness
deep entrenched in my bones,
My concealed sorrows
gnawing at the marrow.
I break every commandment
etched onto my cranium
As I thrust the needle deep
along long intakes of vapour.
Battery acid flow
through my veins
carving in to my flesh
corroding the very soul.
The scent of mary jane
beckons to a long night's slumber
The thoughts in me
stir like molten grease.
A thin film of latex
could have denied my being
A reaper's scythe
could take it all away.
Yet I am so ungrateful
for I dream more than mere bread
My desires reach for
beyond clear skies and dark fathoms.
I crave for a land, a realm
to call my own
than the prozac nation
whose reign I bear.
I long to stand on the shore
and howl at the savage moon
than be a crow among ravens
that scavenge for morsels.
When will I adorn myself
with robes of royalty?
When will my head wear a crown
that my black heart yearns for?
How long will I linger
on unholy crossroads?
How long will I dream of sweet wine
while holding cups of moonshine?
----------------------------------------
- Anup Asokan, Leicester
As usual, I have posted an explanation for the poem in the comments section
8 comments:
Please write a comment explaining the poem ;)
Ye puny mortals;)
Hi Sid how are you? Let me check that blog of yours..
The poem actually talks about ambition, the frustration and depression at not acheiving those aims, and the resulting drug use.
Although the title mentions died of a drug overdose it doesnt talk about his death. So the poem speaks about the thoughts the drug user had before he died (I didn't want drug use to sound too cool).
Also there is an undercurrent that he might be contemplating suicide in the line How long will I linger on unholy crossroads? which could mean that he is unable to take a decision or that he is thinking of suicide (due to the old english custom of burying suicide cases at crossroads). I leave that to the reader to decide.
There is a theme of ambition and depression. He wants fame and the symbols of the elite (crown, robes) and makes no effort to hide them (my black heart yearns for). He wants wine instead of the cheap moonshine (arrack). He breaks every rule when he 'thrust the
needle deep' even when he is taking marijuana (mary jane, vapours). The substance he injects is (not confirmed but left to assume by
the reader as) a potent drug which is damaging to both his soul and body (Battery acid is not to be taken literally). This makes him sleepy and also arouses weird thoughts.
He knows his life could have been prevented by a condom (thin film of latex) or he could die any time (death = grim reaper's scythe). But he decides to be "ungrateful" and wants more than mere sustenance (bread), and has desires pure as the clear sky and dark as the deep oceans. He craves recognition instead of being just a depression patient (prozac = an anti-depressant). He wants not to be part of the rat race (crow among ravens scavenging for morsels) but be the lone wolf who howls at the moon (something unattainable and beautiful?)
The protagonist is honest about his desires, some of them not so innocent. But he desires but does not work towards it. His jealousy and frustration sets him in to depression. He takes up drugs (even mixing them - smoking and injecting) and implying his final demise.
kewl ;)
thanks dileep
Deep, dark and sad. Yet, sends out a strong message. Tells us how NOT to take life, and it's 'unfairness' on us. Sometimes, it helps to be stupidly optimistic, doesn't it? The more I read the lines of this poem (and your explanation above)the more I want to not give in with the daily pressures of life and take it as it comes. I wish our dreams weren't attached to EVERYTHING our lives are, it just makes everything else and everyone else around you worthless, which is kind of being thankless to God (or whomever or whatever one believes in)
The way I see it, the poem is more of a kick in the behind, saying - Get up and thank your stars darling, you are alive, you are healthy (well almost), you have people who love and support you, and THANK GOD you're not living at a place where violence, rape and forced sex is a norm of life! If not taken for granted, your brain WILL help you get what you want...just be patient! :-)
Nice poem Akoz....keep 'em coming :-)
Nice comment, Saumya. Nice that you found a good interpretation of it, and a very convincing epilogue that completes it. Thanks :)
My pleasure! As I said, keep'em, coming...i have a feeling you'll write a book soon. :-)
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