Pride

Gold cherry

By Parson Thru

Fri, 30 Jun 2017
  • 4519 reads
21 comments
 

I don’t know the name of this little square or node
Between Huertas and Atocha in the writers’ district
But there are tables in the space between bars.

A terraza.

I’ve sat here many times before.

Like the time I listened to the Policia Municipal
Beating the crap out of Romanian pickpockets
Behind the door of an apartment block.

If I’m honest, I’d have done it, too.
Where’s the love?

The couple standing with their luggage
On the far side of the street
Waiting for the man
Have been there for an hour.

An electric bus hums by.

They seem good-natured.
Smiling and sharing dried snacks.

Budget hotels and Spanish time.
I think about inviting them for a drink.

I’m avoiding Sol.
Filled with barriers and bag checks.

They closed the station last night.
Made me late for class.

I’ll stay here
And bake between the passing clouds.
Order more 241 mojitos
And put out my antisocial vibe.
Except for the couple by the doorway maybe.

They’re still smiling.
Just.

Around me, the conversations in Spanish
French and Arabic lull me in and out of life.

I hate understanding English.
Can’t turn it off.

Egos tire me.

“Chronicles” is face-down on the table.

As soon as I’ve written this
I’ll pick it up again.

Truths.

The woman leans heavily
On her luggage
But they still smile.

Today is a strange day.

One among many.

They’re stranger all the time.

I concentrate on my “fuck off” vibe.

The couple have stopped smiling
But they still look nice.

Maybe I’ll invite them for a drink.

Pride.

Don't be afraid.

Don't hide.

Certificate PG
Poem
Travel

Comments

Submitted by celticman on

we all hide. that's the sin of pride, but maybe not, a suvival instinct, blink and you'll miss it. 

 

Submitted by Ewan on

that node. There's one in Sevilla, Cordoba, Barcelona, San Sebastian, Valladolid, Toledo, and all the other dusty, sweltering Spanish towns and cities. Invite somebody, invite anybody, unless your notebook's open and you're writing everyone down...

This is splendid.

Best

Ewan

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Nolan on

As I understand "spiritual pride" is the worst of the deadly sins. The best example for it is in the HG Wells story, where the moment that Mr Hyde wins is when Dr Jekyll speaks to himself, on a park bench. It is a monologue and justification and similar in style to yours.

Nolan &&

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

I don't know what a sin is.

Harm, I understand.

Thank you for the cherries. Delish.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ewan on

would be surprised to read that Robert Louis Stevenson hadn't had a hand in his creation.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Nolan on

Sorry you're right. The author is not HG Wells. The rest is in order.

&& Nolan

 

Submitted by celticman on

sin is selifshness in thought, word or deed. Think Tory and you'll get it. 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

God is the President
God is the Queen
God is the load in the killing machine

God is a Sunni
God is a Shia
God is a whisper in someone's ear

God is the military
God is the state
God is the justification for hate

God is mine
God is yours
God is the banker who finances wars

etc etc etc

God is a tin of baked beans

Parson Thru

Submitted by Parson Thru on

I suppose pride in this particular case is considered a reasonable alternative to persecution by others and loathing of one's self. My favourite flag is rainbow-coloured.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Nolan on

South-Africa is known as the rainbow nation our national flag is also very colourful &&

 

Submitted by Fictiontoescape on

I'm beginning to really enjoy poetry. So alluring and once you start you can't stop. This was a wonderful piece! Although I'm not sure I understand the true meaning. I think I'm to literal to understand abstract things! Haha but it's an enticing poem none the less.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Hi Fictiontoescape. I'm not good on literature theory. Some contributors to the site have a wealth of knowledge and ability. I used to write poetry that was much less literal, often inspired by dreams. I couldn't really describe the process or what I'd done.

I quite like Allen Ginsberg, among others.

This piece is what insert described last week as a word picture or pen portrait, which is exactly what it says. Lacking the ability to wield a brush, you use descriptive language. It can be verbose and ranging like Steinbeck, or sparse like Ginsberg. I was writing sparse prose and poetry when I was ten years old. It hasn't improved much.

There's something often called prose poetry or prosetry (I think). I once had a book by Solzhenitzyn of short stories and prose poetry. It was great. I shouldn't have let go of it, but it's sharing the joy, I suppose.

Other poets I like include Plath, Larkin, McGough, I try with Auden and Eliot, but find them harder, and I'm scraping the surface of Lorca as my Spanish improves. Slowly.

Good chatting with you.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

I like your timing here. I want my rainbow emojis on Facebook. Enjoyed the scene setting.

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thanks Elsie.
Didn’t get mine either.

Parson Thru

Submitted by airyfairy on

Anti-social vibe or not, this beautiful word picture is about to get a lot more visitors - it's our Facebook and Twitter Pick of the Day!  Please share/retweet if you've enjoyed it too.

 

Picture credit:  http://tinyurl.com/yc6p2qxo

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thank you so much! So unfriendly a piece surely doesn't deserve it.

The man arrived in the end. He was a woman. The lady of the luggage gave me a nice smile as she went in the door. Clocked watching.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Nolan on

Sounds like the Theory of Relativity. I mean the clocked part. Way off line I guess but Einstein himself said imagination is more important than knowledge.

Cheers! Bye! Nolan

 

Submitted by Ed Crane on

Great line! 

One of the things I liked about Las Palmas . . . and why Maspalomas was to be avoided.

These days I avoid Brussels and Bruges (Brugge please!) for the same reason.

Excellent atmospheric piece, makes me want to head off to Charleroi and grab a passing Ryanair.

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Palomas of a feather.

Thanks Ed.

Parson Thru

Submitted by PoppyS on

I love the way you have told this felt as if I was there with you - taking it all in.
I am not sure what it all meant (does not matter) I was thinking it's something to do with being yourself, and worry not what others think...but whatever I was left feeling I had been on a journey.

Wonderful stuff.

Pops ~xx~

Writing is art in pictures – Go paint poetry!

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Thank you Pops.

It's whatever you want it to be.

Parson Thru