with his skill
the magician
kept trying
His eyes focused
and often teary
the magician
juggled on
Crowd shouting
Little ones excited
the magician
made magic
Title: NOT QUITE SO STORIES Author: David S. Atkinson
Publisher: Literary Wanderlus LLC
Pages: 166
Genre: Absurdist Literary Fiction
The stories of David S. Atkinson's Not Quite So Stories are, for want of a better word, weird.
They are not your typical short stories and they are certainly not what I had expected.
So, the 'not quite so stories' are weird, atypical and unexpected. And I enjoyed reading them. Read between the lines and you'd be surprised by their depth.
Read them superficially and they are 'absurd'.
The author's dedication for this book is
"For Shannon, who graciously puts up with my absurdities and loves me anyway.
Also for every third person named Fred."
When I re-read the dedication after having read the book, it held more meaning. Thus my use of the word 'absurd'.
The stories are very well-written.
The humor, the emotions, the terror - it is all subtle.
The paradox is that everything is exaggerated and yet the underlying message is sub…
Publisher: Literary Wanderlus LLC
Pages: 166
Genre: Absurdist Literary Fiction
The stories of David S. Atkinson's Not Quite So Stories are, for want of a better word, weird.
They are not your typical short stories and they are certainly not what I had expected.
So, the 'not quite so stories' are weird, atypical and unexpected. And I enjoyed reading them. Read between the lines and you'd be surprised by their depth.
Read them superficially and they are 'absurd'.
The author's dedication for this book is
"For Shannon, who graciously puts up with my absurdities and loves me anyway.
Also for every third person named Fred."
When I re-read the dedication after having read the book, it held more meaning. Thus my use of the word 'absurd'.
The stories are very well-written.
The humor, the emotions, the terror - it is all subtle.
The paradox is that everything is exaggerated and yet the underlying message is sub…
I do think sometimes that magicians as well as clowns might be very lonely people, so I feel for this teary-eyed magician. Hopefully, when the children laugh, his loneliness goes away for a while. Nice to see you again, Nimi.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary. It is always wonderful to be able to contribute to Poetry Jam...
DeleteArtists are mostly lonely, I think... their art thrives on those emotions...
Yes the jolly performer can indeed be sad inside and still bring joy to others.
ReplyDeleteThat is the beauty of a good performer...
DeleteThanks for the encouraging comment, Peggy :)
No one is interested in the creator...his creations steal the show...yet the magician is the reality and all else is false...a thought provoking poem Nimi...
ReplyDeleteThanks Sumana... the fact is that one gets awed by the show and believes it to be the truth, without trying to look any further...
DeleteThis really paints the picture and i love how it flows . Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Alan
Deletesmiles...it was so fascinating as kids to see magic...because we were not skeptical and could still believe in it...smiles
ReplyDeleteThere is a beauty in finding smiles and nostalgia... Thanks for a fascinating perspective, Brian :)
DeleteIt is interesting he had tears in his eyes.....like he is being made to perform and finds no joy in it.
ReplyDeleteMay be that's not how he always feels, but there must be moments when he would envy the families and friends enjoying together in the audience, which he's up there alone...
DeleteIt is hard for a magician to have friends I suppose. His act is usually performed alone and he is not the one they've come to see...it's the tricks.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on my poem 'he is not the one they've come to see... it's the tricks'... the magic is certainly more important than the magician.
DeleteThanks, Donna.
I have always had that impression too about magicians being lonely on the stage while the crowd is waiting for magic to happen. Very sweet poem, Nimi!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot, Gabriella...
DeleteNice poem Nimi !
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot... I am glad that you like it!
DeleteWhat a great moment to think about the people behind the performance
ReplyDeleteThat is the first thing when I thought of magic - the magician's loneliness...
DeleteThanks Kimiko...
A charming bit of "magic". Very nice!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy... for reading and for commenting :)
Deletethese few lines holds a whole story of magician, beautiful
ReplyDeleteMagic
Thanks as always, Cifar... I am glad you enjoyed the poem.
DeleteNice... I like your use of juggle here.
ReplyDeleteThanks Laurie...
DeleteThe show must go on, no matter what... Nicely penned.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nicholas...
DeleteIt is one of the bitter realities of life, which most of us don't understand - 'The show does go on...'
Why is it so that the showmans are so lonely??
ReplyDeleteMay be because the performance becomes their identity and no one understands the 'real them'...
DeleteMagician's do not have a retake. Nice poem
ReplyDeleteThanks Meenal...
DeleteYes, no retakes, so they have to give the performance their all, even if they are not in the mood for fun...
There is the crowd in front, there are the little ones to cheer, and yet the magician will be lonely!
ReplyDeleteIs it loneliness of creativity, I wonder...
Delete