Saturday, July 26, 2008

face

cobwebs of disdainful prejudice
like puckered wrinkles on the cheeks
black sarcasm that darkened it all
the stark shadow under the eyes
the stained rut of selfish intent
the morbid lines on the forehead
the refusal to laugh with the joys of others
the drooping and sagging of the chin
an attitude that diminished the spirit
the chilling dryness on the lips
the discomforting pompousness
shrieked from the ridge of the nose
the insensitive desire to subjugate
the silent cruel blankness of expression
this labyrinth of thoughts
faced the surgeon
technically attractive
a media savvy person
had come for a face-lift
neither cardiac nor cosmetic
but a matter of the heart
the surgeon thought
or was it prosopagnosia
~face blindness . ./original/z.g.

22 comments:

  1. Immediately I think of Van Gogh's impressionistic self- portrait - with lots of raw brushstrokes and textures and just a hint of sunny paint.

    Great poem!

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  2. I enjoyed this poem. I guess there is a real spiritual element to our faces. We seem to have lost sight of that today.

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  3. So much of the inner self is stamped on the face. Well highlighted by your words.

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  4. This developed into a surprise ending as I read for I saw a sourness upon life that cannot be repaired on the surface. Love it.
    ann

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  5. some things are just psychological, the mind rarely see ourselves in reality, you have a great way of putting us in this person's shoes

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  6. The stories our faces tell. I'm trying to imagine having the power to alter such features in another. To rewrite the story? To edit?

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  7. Well, I had to go look up prosophagnosia, but I love this poem. There are truths no amount of surgery can disguise.

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  8. I love learning new words … so thanks for pushing me to the dictionary today. The shift in perspective caught me pleasantly by surprise. Thank you.
    Hugs and blessings,

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  9. Beautiful poem! The images are so vivid.

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  10. I've come back to this a few times since this morning. It's got a lot of depth that rewards careful reading. And I love the challenge of learning a new word!

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  11. I love the way this is going, the dark feel to it and the twist.

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  12. This is a very powerful poem so full of dark images. The face-blindness at the end is fascinating.

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  13. (APPLAUSE)
    The very first line hooked me, the cobwebs...
    Definitely, it was a matter of the heart for this patient. Or a matter of the head?
    Maybe she needs an antideppressant more than a facelift?
    Fun poem with wonderful description.
    thanks,
    Karen

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  14. Indeed our anger and prejudices are revealed on our faces...we can be sure of that! Thanks for sharing zg!

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  15. Excellent lines in this... indeed what has been embedded in the heart is not easily removed - for good or ill.

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  16. the features of a face tell all.. the artist w/a knife cannot dimenish the thoughts within... a bowl full of thoughts and images well placed... sorta dark side, huh, of humanity..

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  17. Your wonderful poem reminds me to be greatful that I can recognize the love and warmth of a familiar face!

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  18. I don't think even a surgeon can correct this person.
    Sad to say, I know a few people like this.
    Great poem.

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  19. Too much face lifting going on for my taste. Interesting way you pose the question. Can we fax this to all of Hollywood?

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  20. I think you covered all the emotions that can be written on a face. Just a great poem.

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  21. Quite a twist... reminds me of Dorian Grey's painting, only the face you refer to is the canvas. Very deep. :)

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  22. Ur remarks enhance the thinking process..just how do i thank u..Each One Of U..

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..namastey!~