Blindman

[Xamonas Chegwe]

This is a bit of a departure for me. My poems tend to be fairly straightforward; this is not meant to be.

It is about someone that I know (no-one here - don't get paranoid! ;)) Each line is a condensing of some character trait or event, which I have no intention of explaining. I would be interested in what you all think it means though - and any general comments.

Thanks,

XC

---------------------------

Blindman


I

He sees admiring eyes around him everywhere,
Those eyes are uneasy too; he misses this.

He waits impatiently for time to pass, needing entertainment,
Time has other plans.

He stands agape at his own, arch cleverness;
But all see his winks, all hear his asides.

His failings are held up before his empty gaze
He misses this too.


II

Blindman looked with eyes another kindly loaned
But saw nothing.
Blindman chose his dances with care
But fell each time.

Blindman’s meagre God looked down upon
His sole believer.
Blindman knew that look; knew it too well,
It was his own.

Blindman always answered all of
Blindman’s questions.
Blindman never questioned any of
Blindman’s answers.


III

I see his building rages.

I seek to pacify.
I duck under his explosion.

I am caught by it.
I feel his incandescence.

I neither want nor need this heat.
I run from his embrace.

I fear it’s permanence.
I scourge myself for not doubting him.

I doubt him now.
I scream at his exposure.

He chooses to hear himself instead.


I wait.

I will always wait.


I know this; he does not.



Such is his nature and mine.


IV

Blindman pushes his favours upon others; but he pulls far harder in return.

Blindman is scared to dream; his dreams bring unseen colours; unknown shapes.

Blindman knows best what he does not know; his falsities kill his truths.

Blindman laughs in hisses; screams in whispers; praises in sneers.

Blindman cannot see through skin.

Blindman is drunk on himself.

Blindman’s stalks sprout dead wood and rotting leaves:

One is stripped for all to view ‘cept he.

One bears empty fruit with pride.

Another dances in the breeze but is chained off from him.

Blindman grinds down his friends;

Until the nubs leave one by one;


Until his loneliness is perfected.



Until he is himself; alone.


V

Blindman alone can not see that he is blind.



XC

[Whifflingpin]

I think that anyone who is not Blindman will see these characteristics in himself. Blindman will not know what you are talking about.

I am praising, not in sneers, when I say that this poem should be in every anthology meant for fifteen year olds to read.

.

[genoveva]

Blindman knows best what he does not know; his falsities kill his truths.

XC

Is this autobiographical? :brow:

I especially like the above line.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

Blindman knows best what he does not know; his falsities kill his truths.

Is this autobiographical? :brow:

I especially like the above line.

Now, is that meant in an ironic way? Are you saying that I'm like that? It's probably true of all of us to a degree. Me no less than most.

If you read the preamble, you will see that it is not autobiographical, but biographical. I will not explain the quote, except to say that it refers to a very specific event in this person's life and his interaction with someone else that I know. It can also be viewed in more general terms - that is intended. The majority of the poem is intended in that way; general and specific at once.

I also hoped that this line would appear ambiguous. Does it mean that he knows what is lacking in his knowledge (in the Socratic sense), or that he thinks he knows things that he really does not? I won't explain this either, you decide; or decide not to decide, the ultimate meaning of any poem is the choice of each and every reader.

Thanks for reading it anyway. That's the important part to us scribblers. :nod:

[genoveva]

I read it again and it seem seems like Blindman is indeed an unhappy character. He takes out his unhappiness in unhealthy ways on others- in abusive ways? This would be my general take of the poem... Could this be an argument that is being described?

[Xamonas Chegwe]

In general terms, yes you are right genoveva. I don't want to explain the poem, or describe the man further than the poem does, but he is sad in a lot of ways.

[Virgil]

I liked it. I liked the third stanza the best, probably because it did not repeat "Blindman". That's my only negative comment, repeating "blindman" got a little monotonous, but I assume you were after that.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

There is no Blindman in the first stanza either - not much gets past you Virgil! ;)

Re. the repetition - I was actually influenced by some of Ted Hughes's 'Crow' poems in that respect - although not really in any other.

[Riesa]

Just a thought, is it a riddle? Blindman is something, not someone....though you said someone you know. I'm reading it all wrong, I suppose. Hmm. It changes everytime I read it. Well, that's what I thought today.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

Interesting - what kind of thing did you have in mind?

[Riesa]

Blindman looked with eyes another kindly loaned,This makes me think it might be a tool, something man made, what I have no idea.
Progression of my readings, and they have all come with big Maybes: self-criticism, abuse, addiction, riddle.

I don't know. I like it a lot though, and since you won't explain, it remains a mystery. :cool:

[Isagel]

To try and tell what a poet means always seems abit like a trick question , I do not dare to guess. But I can tell you that the poem made me think of a man that used to be my friend, whom I haven´t thought about for years. He is/was a very good actor. He has a remarkable talent and can portray strong feelings on stage. The problem was that he could not stop acting off stage. The praise he got never was enough to him. It could not calm him down or make him sure that he was as good as he wanted to be. Since it never was as much as he expected he always doubted if it was sincere and therefore gave snide remarks. He was blind to his own strength, and talent - but also to his flaws. He could not see what he did, from any other viewpoint than his own. To talk with him was strange, everything seemed to pass through a filter, getting twisted and turned to meet his expectations for good or bad. He was both so full of himself, and so very lonely. And he ended up that way as far as I know. His friendship wears you down. I could not stand the ups and downs. So I failed him, like he knew from the beginning that everyone would.

Of course your poem is not about him. But for me it will be. It suits him.

[Xamonas Chegwe]

Isagel,

There are similarities (and differences, of course) between your friend and Blindman. I won't say more because it is a very personal poem and a very personal situation. I'm sure you understand.

Take whatever meaning you will from this, that's it's purpose; if I wanted to present definites, I'd write a thesis not a poem. ;)

Thanks for reading, it's a poem that I thought had sunk into the depths of this thread, never to resurface.