Roy Batty (Tears in Rain)

Gold cherry

By marandina

Tue, 01 Jun 2021
  • 4007 reads
24 comments
 

This is a tribute to Roy Batty played by the late Rutger Hauer from one of my favourite movies - Blade Runner (1982)

https://bladerunner.fandom.com/wiki/Roy_Batty

 

Stoical, silicon android eyes

of a beholder beholden,

only to what’s real.

Where consciousness ends

and subconscious begins.

 

In a twilight, insular world,

where synaptic neurons fire,

a debauched Off-world for hire,

in the murky light of Hinterland

at the border of our sanity.

 

A man tripping, slipping, falling,

an arm outstretched, reaching,

clawing, recalling its prey,

an act of contrition,

amongst many heinous crimes.

 

Rain falling, pounding, watching,

a desperate, disparate struggle

decided by a nemesis of fate.

A replicant killing machine wandering

through its corridor of existence.

 

You sought forgiveness,

redemption from your maker.

Science marvels at creation,

oblivious to moral dichotomy

and your light burned.

 

Twice as bright, half as long,

you burned so very,

very brightly, Roy,

you did see things

people didn’t believe.

 

Attack ships on fire

off the shoulder of Orion.

C-beams glittered in the dark,

near the Tannhäuser Gate,

all those moments lost in time.

 

Time to die.

 

Image free to use at

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bradbury_Building_from_the_i...

 

  

 

Certificate PG
Poem
Miscellaneous Poems
Fantasy

Comments

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

I have to admit to not knowing who Roy Batty was till I looked it up. I've never seen Blade Runner, but reading about Roy Batty, I now have more of an understanding about your poem. 

You sum him up well giving the impression of an extreme existance to which he had no control over, which is kind of sad in a way.

You always manage to introduce me to new information in your poems.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by marandina on

Hi Jenny. Thanks for reading. I've added a brief intro to show who Roy Batty is in the movie Blade Runner. He's one of my favourite characters who appears in one of my favourite scenes in one of my favourite movies. Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by jeand on

HI Paul

I thoughtt this was very profound. Like Jenny I didn't know the subject, but you certainly painted a picture of him.

Jean Day

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jean. More info/link added now for anyone interested. Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

One of my favourite SF characters. Amazing that Rutger Hauer came up with that wonderful speech, probably the best moment in the film. I was a Blade Runner superfan back in the day - I haven't seen it for a while, but I can imagine I would find some parts of it a bit problematic now. Still think that the opening sequence is one of the best things ever. 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading, Jane. It's hard to imagine it being another movie that originally flopped. I love the fact that Rutger Hauer rewrote the script for that scene on the roof. And what a stunning speech he came up with. All so brilliant including the doves being released into the sky. "Blade Runner" up there with Ridley Scott's finest work.

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

This tribute to Rutger Hauer’s performance in Blade Runner as the android, Roy Batty, is our Pick of the Day.

Here’s the link to the Tears in the Rain monologue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoAzpa1x7jU

 

Submitted by marandina on

Oh wow thank you so much, Mark. That's made my day! Paul :)

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Enjoyed it, P. 

One of my favourite films. I love 2049 too. Strangely, I was disparaging of 2049 the first time I watched but now I'm bowled over by it.

However, nothing quite beats that opening sequence of the original. 

Have you listened to the Vangelis soundtrack? I highly recommend playing it while walking through Piccadily Circus at night in the rain. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

I liked the 2049 movie when I saw it first time at the cinema. I really liked Ryan Gosling's blinkless performance. It had a similar atmosphere to the first movie.

The original uses that Far East influence so so well in its imagery and sets. At the time, it was unique although much copied since.

I do love the Vangelis soundtrack. I really should listen to it again.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

Haven't watched it for ages, and didn't remember it well enough so looked up on Wikipedia - had not realised that Rutger Hauer is responsible for the power and poetry of those lines - the original is cheesy dross, I hope he got huge credit for that.

Your poem immediately sent me to the flashing lights and angular shadows, with only the weather being any sign of nature, and the struggle to eliminate something wonderful. You have done it so well

 

Submitted by marandina on

Hi Di. Thanks for reading. It's such a seminal scene. I love the movie and the sequel is pretty good too. Thanks again for reading. Paul :)

 

Submitted by celticman on

Blade Runner was certainly better than the book. They tended to be prescient, but shit. Brought up o a diet of Star Trek, this is one of the great monolgues (not in the book). I'm rambling. Great poem. 

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Might have to challenge you to a duel, Celticman, for dissing Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? 

Pistols at 20 paces. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

Thanks for reading CM. I must confess to reading a few pages of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and not carrying on with it. This was many years ago. Maybe I should try again. I like a lot of the PKD movie adaptations. They definitely translated incredibly well to screen.

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Check out A Scanner Darkly. That's probably his best, or The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. To be fair, Androids isn't up there with those two. 

 

Submitted by marandina on

I can't remember whether I've seen the animated movie "A Scanner Darkly". It's 2006 so I may have done but I feel I need to find it again. It may be on Netflix so I will check it out. Will definitely check those books out. "The Three Stigmatas.."looks good. Having just checked PKD's back catalogue it really is quite stunning.

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

His short stories are generally terrifc too. He wrote on speed and went mad at the end but there are some absolute crackers in there. 

 

Submitted by hilary west on

Hi,

This is a fitting tribute to the man! You have a marvellous way with words. Quite brilliant.

hilary    smiley

 

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading it, Hilary. Glad you liked it. Paul :)

 

Submitted by David Kirtley on

Great poem summarising a scene which does seem very moving, after looking at it on your link. I may have seen it before, but had forgotten. This idea of an android with a conscience, and a memory, but nonetheless a job to do, is very powerful! He seems conflicted, but the growing understanding was there.

Submitted by marandina on

Ah thanks for reading, David. It's a standout scene in a standout movie. Thanks again. Paul :)

 

Submitted by Hades502 on

Yeah, Bladerunner is also one of my favorite films. And the Roy character is just so well-written and acted. I prefer the movie to Dick's book, actually. I love that last dialogue between Roy and Decker at the end, so powerful and poetic. Great tribute, man. Good writing, as usual. Well deserved cherries.

GGHades502

Submitted by marandina on

Cheers Hades. Funnily enough, I have just recorded "Bladerunner" to watch yet again. It never gets old.