Temperance

[Dark Muse]

The next installment in the Dark Side of Virtue series

Temperance

Hungry eyes reduced
to dark hollows
sunken in skull face
watch the world pass by.

Pallid skin begins
to slip off your
skeleton frame
with the realization
that it is not life
but yourself that is
beginning to diminish.

Denying all form
of self-gratification
what is left for your
suffering but knotted
bowls and a parched
soul.

Laughter brings tears
of regret which became
your only substance
tormented by glimpses of
childlike innocence.

You pass through
vibrant robust
lives as if you were
a ghost, for you have
for all your restraint
became only a shade
of what it means to live.

[MorpheusSandman]

A really, really dark piece. I can't say this is one of my favortes from you, DM, it seems to lack the poetic complexity you've adopted recently. I will say, though, that it reads like a really potent representation of depression, which is something I've suffered through before.

[Dark Muse]

Thank you for your comments. I can agree that this one may not be as complex, but I believe it does accomplish what I was after with it.

[hillwalker]

Another gem - distilling the poverty of soul that often accompanies self-punishment or denial of pleasure for denial's sake.
The phrase 'vibrant robust' in the final verse is perhaps a little awkward, although I understand the image you are trying to convey. But other than that, a powerful piece.
Keep 'em comin'.....

[Dark Muse]

Thank you!

[hack]

This is very good DM.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I admire the whole of this, but this stanza



Pallid skin begins
to slip off your
skeleton frame
with the realization
that it is not life
but yourself that is
beginning to diminish.

is especially striking!

[Amylian]

It is instilled with despair so it seems...!!!

Not Life, Realization, Denying, Tears and etc all tell me a story of a painful truth...!!!

Nice poem...!!!

[Dark Muse]

Thank you!