without a defining arch or separating steps
we’re meant to see ourselves as we are
always with our backs to someone as we perform
our hands and faces interactive entering and going out
through the audience or rising from a mechanic wonderpit
a cauldron blood of bat limb of toad heart of constrictor
stirred with a magic eagle feather and a chant
foretelling spectacular rise and fall
or alleging from imaginary battlement murder most foul
arguments of salesmen who live beyond final lines
we’ve never been anywhere else
but in this indistinguishable from real
vehicle for looks and notice pathos and derision
these stuffed bears of happiness and tragedy
making us think so to speak
scripts delivered with hesitations
what? er well you know maybe
rehearsed vernacular verisimilitude
but they’d like us to think not
the best the self-appointed critic at the interval bar
comes up with while downing something on the rocks
and making smutty asides to the director’s partner
we’re at dinner in the second act and have invited decency
the poor relation in want of a feed at the holidays
who has come in cheap clothes and with toys that don’t need batteries
the children kick in corners even before he leaves
we seat him down the table where he’s hidden by the flowers
but can later claim without a hint of staginess he was there
and we did our bit for him
we’ve moved past electric shock sleep deprivation and cleansing
to a secular blur that’ll soon come clear
a voice rising from skeletons in every corner of the house
with authentic timbre
johnpoetflanagan 
Suffering from sleep deprivation here. It will be followed by a blur. Can’t quite seem to get the hang of sleeping any more.
Thank you, Alicia
My best to you
john
Reblogged this on Ace Friends & Bloggers News.
Thank you, Ian
Generous and supportive as ever
My best to you
john
Always my friend always …. Ian ⭐️😊👍
Bravo!
Joan
Thank you very much
Big hugs
john
Wow! I’m (almost) lost for words. Life, in all its acts, and we, as such bit-part players, perform as if the words were written around us. And, in the end, all we do is hand the tattered script to our off-spring, hoping that their performance will out shine ours, yet knowing that they will face the same cat-calls.
There is an inevitability of sadness within this, John, which is majestically crafted. I am hugely impressed.
All the best to you
Chris
Chris
You honour me greatly and i’m deeply thankful
I know you appreciate this work took time and effort
and severe editing but i think it was worth it.
Again, THANK YOU
Always
john
It certainly was and you are most welcome.
Wow! I wish I knew how to wrap my feelings about this into a neatly-edged, ribboned review, John. But, THIS. This is too big to be wrapped!
Thank you
Dearest VV
for this loveliest of responses
Much love
john
Wow, John, just WOW — like what I say when I go hiking in nature and catch the most spectacular view.
Vera
So kind and generous, such support and encouragement
With love
john
Your poem grabbed at me from the beginning, jf. I found myself keeping up, saw myself, and then just as it always is with your poetry I felt carried along – destination worthwhile. Effortless the way you communicate. Great!
Thank You
Generous and Supportive
Dear Audrey
i’m glad you like the fluency, it has to be worked at a long while
Always with love
jf
Sounds like a lot of ghosts there, John!
It’s good to see you and I hope that life is teaching lessons kindly. Many Sweet Blessings your way!
❤
Yes indeed, Dear Lorrie
ghosts that need daylight.
Thank you, Friend.
Hope you are doing well.
Much love
john
Here’s to the daylight, John, because they always go bump in the night! 😉
Much love🌞
Our minds are so stuffed, but with what? Only a poet can help us sort it out!
Thank you, Tom
thank you very much
john
Powerful words John. 💛
Val
thank you so much
Big hugs
john
Well worth waiting for. So finely crafted in word and image and thought. Bravo, John!! So happy to see this. ❤ ellen
Thank you
Dear Ellen
for your generous words and for your encouragement
Much love to you
john
Ah, Dear John, you hold a powerful mirror for gazing at our performing selves.
Myra
Thank you for the unwavering support
i appreciate it deeply
Always with love
john
Wow, John! Your creativity and message captivated me from start to finish! Wonderful writing and expression of your thoughts! Wishing you a blessed weekend! xo
The finest of responses
Dear Lauren
Thank you so much
Always with big hugs
john
Poignant, reflective moments in this reading, John. Interpretation is one thing; perspective is quite another. Enjoyed this my friend.
Thank you, Don
For this excellent and thoughtful response
Always
john
Brother John – Insightful view of reality. No separation between actors and audience. All the world’s a stage reversed to all the stage is the world with the stage’s limitations, tragedies and wonders. We’ve always existed thus, illusion indistinguishable from reality, “making us think so to speak”. Our lives’ directions and purposes unsure as we age. instead of a noble maturity we end up with:
the best the self-appointed critic at the interval bar
comes up with while downing something on the rocks
and making smutty asides to the director’s partner
In our “second act” we make a halfhearted pretense at honoring the higher purpose “decency” of life, but hypocritically :
we seat him down the table where he’s hidden by the flowers
but can later claim without a hint of staginess he was there
and we did our bit for him
Finally, we arrive at the end, beyond punishment, guilt, and salvation to the reality of,
“a voice rising from skeletons in every corner of the house
with authentic timbre”
Profound , as ever, Brother John.
Thank you
Brother David
for this wonderful commentary.
You always offer support and encouragement through your fine words.
THANK YOU
Much love to You and Diane
Always your brother
john