Superficial (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 25 Apr 2015
  • 1302 reads
6 comments
 

Where are you? I can’t find you!
You’re hiding there below,
somewhere way below
the surface.

Your pleasant conversation,
without communication
of what you feel
cannot reveal
what’s way below,
below the surface.

You needn’t dredge
the muck and sludge,
the shame can sink,
but don’t begrudge
some openness,
don’t hedge or fudge …

Your smile can seem so sweet,
but somehow souls don’t meet,
no spark of recognition,
acceptance, comprehension,
of mutual agreement and esteem,
awareness of your fear, or dream.
So help me dive a little way within
and let you in
to my heart’s mind
to better know what is below and find
a kinship and respect
a trust that can connect –
no friendship shallow,
polite and hollow:
so take the risk to
open up and share
with candid honesty lay bare
and ventilate some deeper thinking there,
some warmth, appreciation,
not always skating on the surface;

then walking up a tricky road,
emotions buried don’t explode:
a friendship with affection woven
tested, plumbed, developed, proven.

[IP 24/4: ’Below the surface’ ]

 

 

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Comments

Submitted by celticman on

a trust that can expect, that's what I'd expect, Happiness not joy, perhaps that should be our ploy?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Mmm … don't know, Celt, I suppose trust expects trust and honesty, and to be trusted. It's a mutual thing anyway isn't it, but needs some degree of openness. And such brings joy and happiness methinks! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

A brilliant take on the IP Rhiannon, and as ever, much food for thought.

Tina

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Tina. This subject had been on my mind before the IP was mentioned, and so I was a bit surprised! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Rhiannon

This poem certainly goes deep into trying to communicate. I think sometimes what one interprets as shallow and unresponsive, can just be shy and lacking in conversational skills.  There's a man in our bridge group who always volunteers to do the washing up, and when I commented on it, he says he does it to avoid having to talk to the others. I can see his point, as so much of social conversation seems meaningless and unnecessary.

Jean

 

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Those are certainly good points, Jean.
I think what I find difficult is when there is plenty of that rather meaningless conversation (listening to a bit of which of course does sometimes help to get to know someone's concerns a bit) but there seems to be a 'Keep out!' sign, all is 'on the surface' no flicker of acceptance at a deeper level, affection and acceptance that can come across even though not much is actually being shared verbally. Maybe not rebuff, but just determinedly self-contained, to what seems to be an unhelpful degree. Don't know if that makes sense in your experience?! Rhiannon