sunday's heat... dear God... enough.

Yes!!! The smothering heat just left the midwest. Maybe Al Gore was right? As for your fate.... something better awaits. Be prepared! (you know, like a boy scout) : )

Very moving. I will surely need to read it a few more times._r

The heat is getting to us all. You are most certainly not a punch line. R-

Chuck somehow I don't think this is about heat, but whatever, I feel the humid oppression in this poem.

You are very clever - you'll find your way
Faith is what you make it.
I will wait to hear and witness
those tears turn to joy again.
Beautiful poetry, Chuck.

I feel left out. In the general miasma of depression that seems to be going around, I appear to be an isolated anxiety addict. When I am not worrying about something, I worry that I'm not worrying. Hey, you all, that heat wave you're getting is our every day weather down here in Florida from April through October. I'm moving to Oregon.

I have a lump of dread in my throat reading this.
Fight back. Kick its ASS. Tell it to go to hell! To leave you alone. Take back your life. It's nobody else's, but yours.
Hugs.

:( Rated. Excellento and yeah, we're on number 45th day of temps over 90s, heat index well over 100, pfffft, Tink doesn't do well in Heat. :(

Chuck, as you have said before, our lives seem, a lot, to be on the same journey.
This was beautiful
rated

I wish I was on that dock right now, jumping into some cool clear water...

I love the heat. It helps the pain if I can just stay out of too much of it. Winter is my devil.

This is a stunning poem and the photo takes it to the ether.

I agree, enough is enough and I loved the pic too.
Rated with hugs

No, your fate is to write wonderful poems.

This is beautiful in its simplicity but oh so very heartbreaking...
Ah Chuck, hope it's only the heat...

I don't think your fate could possibly be as bleak as this feels--but the fact that you made me feel it is the best proof of that, right? Devastating. Disturbing.

But OH we know, we all know...

I'm thinking if you listen for the answer to the question you asked at the end you'll get an answer, and it's going to be your choice--I recommend choosing the light, okay? Happy thoughts and prayers!

Screw eternity and fuck fate. As you have written them, they are dead wrong. The heat exacerbates everything that is wrong, and when it abates, what is wrong will (unfortunately) still be there. . . but hopefully it will be more tolerable. In time, though, we must all keep hope alive that things will get better.

You have a gift, Chuck, and I thank you for sharing it -- RomanticPoetess got it just right. What an amazing writer you are. Hugs and (R).

Yes, enough.

You are the master of your ship, you succumb only to rough seas, protected from sirens, ill winds and sharks, you are the master of your ship. Given the season, the high tide and clear sail, you are the person who makes the direction. Under the moonlit night though you travel, the respite is in sleeping not in the delusion of hopeless fitful pangs. This speaks to me, a long time ago, before I knew I made the punch lines, I made my fate. It was an illusion to believe I could do nothing, that it was all in someone else's hands. I had to chose myself first. Then I could finally see the messages, the light, the direction. My fate, as God planned. R

So sad, yet beautiful...Everything changes, it must be time soon.

I can relate.

eternity's joke... no kidding Chuck.

Chuck
Clever's not what it's cracked up to be.
Often when you lose your way, you find something interesting.
Desire can be exhausting. Numbness can be rest, recharging.
"Witness my veneer peel" is a line that sticks.
Last stanza: deep.
In a way, all our lives are punch lines.
I agree with Sheila, it's up to us to make it a good one, and be the last comic standing.

For someone who is no longer clever, this is some pretty coy imagery, "...hear my heart pump lifeless..." R

This has me perplexed, I hope everything is alright. The heat is getting us all.

Chuck,
I admit I don't know you at all, but my immediate response to this piece is "Uh oh!" And I'm not talking about the heat either. Let me know if you need an ear.

Lezlie

I don't mean to be assuming, but you sound depressed. Perhaps it's because depression has hit me and I'm projecting myself onto you. Chuck, be good to yourself. Love yourself and do what you have to do to feel better.

You don't need to be clever when you've got the poetry in you, Chuck. And you do.

Does it help to know that you're not alone?

You only have to be clever enough. Enough to do work like this.

"witness my veneer peel" ~ great image

xox

If the heat helps you create such work, one more day would be okay, wouldn't it? Put a cool damp cloth on your forehead. It will help you write.

"hear my heart pump lifeless."

That is the best line I have read in AGES!! My goodness that is wonderful!!!

Chuck-You're hurting and I feel that oppression, the weight of your sadness.If I could lift it I would, but that's not for me.You can shoulder this, I know you can.
R

tears roll back into my eyes ~ this is serious. I think this might happen if you are sweating and crying at the same time. A cooling agent will find its way to you.

No longer clever? Impossible!

-rated-

The last stanza: I've been there.

powerful as always

I agree with Rita. There is a lot of heavy barometric pressure weighing on that tender heart of yours.

I like this. Concise but one to come back to again.