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| The Children's Room, part of Catherine Jansen's Soft House Project |
Imagine we were a big show
staged for the reigning God or gods—
(I’m so glad that I don’t believe
this, but …)—would it be comedy,
tragedy, romance or another
non-ending mixed form like soap
non-ending mixed form like soap
opera or detective mystery?
I mean—(I’m glad that I don’t
believe this, but …)—do you think that
some unexpected excitement
helps keep attention focused?
A tornado or two, random
killer, refugee crisis due
to war and/or genocide, or
a great race, a new opera
or the Olympics?—(I’m glad
I don’t believe this, but …)—I
stage drama and read stories that
draw me into worlds I wouldn’t
otherwise know, and I can't stop
myself from reading so why not
he/she/them? I move chessmen on
boards and put miniatures in
doll houses. I space flowers and
thin vegetables. What do you do?
What do you think makes a great story?
Posted for Poets United Poetry Pantry
Copyright © 2015 S.L.Chast
Your poem definitely has me wondering, Susan
ReplyDeleteHard to fathom sometimes the mind of God.
Are we not god's when we write our stories? Is that not how we keep the attention of our readers? With the tension of life. I don't know if many people would buy a story of just a normal person doing normal things. You never see it in the movies. Even the 'based on true stories.' But I wonder in the end if we really crave anything more than life as simple, without all the drama.
ReplyDeleteOh, good question. Well, there has to be Love....and wild animals. For starters. Love this poem and all the (I'm glad I dont believe this....") But.....I often think we ARE an incredibly dysfunctional and messed up soap opera, and God watches, transfixed, because He cant help it, and thinks some enlightenment is bound to happen, to lift the tawdry plot. Alternately, He tosses the remote across the room and bursts into frustrated tears.
ReplyDeletewe were only given life with a little bit free will and the rest we made...be it comedy, tragedy or soap opera....very thoughtful lines...
ReplyDeleteHmm, one wonders. In life we need a fine balance, perhaps, between too much drama and too much boredom. In stories – oh well, the more excitement the better, lol.
ReplyDeleteLike the idea and the execution...nicely done.
ReplyDeleteSusan, your poems are always very insightful and filled with social/weather/current events/issues. it's admirable. keep it up!!!
ReplyDeleteLove is easy but a surprise twist helps as well so that the reader is content in the end.
ReplyDeleteI think exactly that makes a good story - not believing (perhaps) - but - asking the questions exploring every nook and cranny with the excitement and curiosity of a child imagining just what goes on in that dollhouse
ReplyDeleteA story can be many things - the biggest story is the one we carry in our heart..even during chaos it is those humble stories of survival through a storm that touch us most. I think some stories come from our imaginations ...how big can you dream?
ReplyDeleteI think that we as author can be our own creators.. sometimes I wonder if what we write would actually come true.
ReplyDeleteA big story is perhaps one that is different from others.It can be mysterious enough to create that desire to know more from those others who were not informed!
ReplyDeleteHank
Love those parenthetical phrases, especially.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of the quote from King Lear:
ReplyDeleteAs flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods. They kill us for their sport.
We are given the paper and the pen - what and how we write is up to us. Some things we can't control (those tornaoes, deaths, floods) but we can control how we react to them. The last line, the ultimate question - so individual the answers and sometimes, they will change. This certainly got me to thinking today. Spencer is Kanzensakura
ReplyDeletevery thoughtful lines.. love that last question.. makes you re-think
ReplyDeleteI stage drama and read stories that
ReplyDeletedraw me into worlds I wouldn’t
otherwise know
Often it is that we are drawn into the world of drama and fable.. which lead us into another world.. this world which is unlike our own.. leave us to marvel at the endless possibilities. Beautifully penned :D
Lots of love,
Sanaa
The mythology of old says exactly that...we are here to act out stories and drama for the gods...to stage a play for them....for now my story would be a good murder mystery. Can't help myself. I just love them.
ReplyDeleteI think a good story has many of the ingredients we experience in real life. I think you've written a good poem, and (I don't believe this either) God, the gods, are writing a great story which I hope has a happy ending.
ReplyDeleteOh, I like the question. Great story is Great story,when having conflict between characters, opinions, views,... and then it's up to director/conductor/God how we end up this conflict, but....from philosophy we know there are no movement/progress without fight and union of opposites. Go figure....
ReplyDeleteMy life is definitely 60-40 / soap opera-family entertainment. I've found that egocentric people in one's life does have a tendency to get the soap suds going - and, as with soap-operas: if they're relatives, there's not much you can do about it. They do like to stage the show. I try to have as minimal contact as possible with people who intrude into my life with their agendas. But yes, I have had similar thoughts as those that you have expressed here - often.
ReplyDeleteWriting a story or poem does give a sense of power and control, though sometimes I wonder if I'm trying to control my characters or myself...Very well done.
ReplyDeleteSteve K.