Monday, March 27, 2017

Messenger


image from freeakingnews.com


Messenger

“Man is a messenger who forgot the message.”
--Abraham Joshua Heschel.

Balloon me to
the stars--a man
muttered,

but as I turned
to him,
his face inflated,

detached,
and ballooned
past me.

Above it
a comic book
balloon hovered,

saying--
the balloon 
in your heart valve
is bursting.


I knew it was a lie.


Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub Q44
at

23 comments:

  1. De JacksonMarch 27, 2017 at 12:46 PM

    I love that you've used the word in multiple ways here, Glenn. I can just see this. Great images, as always.

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  2. brudbergMarch 27, 2017 at 12:46 PM

    What a surrealistic take on this... it's like a dream of sorts.

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  3. tonispencerMarch 27, 2017 at 1:17 PM

    I understand completely. We received word that my mother's left ventricle has ballooned out and death can be at any moment - days, weeks....

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  4. indybevMarch 27, 2017 at 1:28 PM

    A bit surreal, a lot clever, an end punch!

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  5. Sanaa RizviMarch 27, 2017 at 1:46 PM

    Fantastic images here, Glenn ❤️

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  6. Frank HubenyMarch 27, 2017 at 2:12 PM

    I like the Heschel quote about a message one has forgotten and the ending about knowing it is a lie.

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  7. Kim M. RussellMarch 27, 2017 at 2:15 PM


    A great take on the word 'balloon', Glenn. I like how you've explored the different forms and meanings. I can also see the surreal, particularly in:
    'his face inflated,
    detached,
    and ballooned
    past me.

    Above it
    a comic book
    balloon hovered...'

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  8. Victoria Ceretto-SlottoMarch 27, 2017 at 3:23 PM

    Yikes. Deconstructionism at its best, Monsieur Picasso. And Bjorn is right--surreal, too.

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  9. AmayaMarch 27, 2017 at 3:26 PM

    Haha, Kafka- or Murakami-esque.

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  10. GraceMarch 27, 2017 at 3:38 PM

    The message and surreal image of that man are frightening to me ~ Great uses of the balloon Glenn ~

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  11. WaltermarksMarch 27, 2017 at 4:27 PM

    That's quite surreal, Glenn. The beautiful vision that turns to nightmare, a ghastly reality and very surprising, very good Glenn

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  12. WolfsrosebudMarch 27, 2017 at 4:44 PM

    A little sci-fi here. Interesting take on the Word.

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  13. Gayle Walters RoseMarch 27, 2017 at 5:07 PM

    Definitely dreamlike, Glenn, and a little creepy. I'm glad it was a lie though.

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  14. TruedessaMarch 27, 2017 at 5:35 PM

    This has a dream like quality, that disturbs me a bit. A premonition that will burst hearts into pieces with the reality of what is happening in the world.

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  15. ThotpurgeMarch 27, 2017 at 5:42 PM

    So many ways to use the word..clever!

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  16. MariaMarch 27, 2017 at 10:12 PM

    I can see a lot of balloons floating around in this piece. Clever take!

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  17. CedarwindMarch 28, 2017 at 5:21 AM

    The sort of nightmare you want to be lucid about. Well done :)

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  18. Kathy ReedMarch 28, 2017 at 6:41 AM

    A little scary but at the same time dreamy. Great use of the 44 words, which is not easy to do!

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  19. Maude LynnMarch 28, 2017 at 8:13 AM

    This is really cool!

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  20. AnonymousMarch 28, 2017 at 9:32 AM

    Ballooned me elsewhere.

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  21. AnotherFearlessYear.netMarch 28, 2017 at 4:33 PM

    I always love your quadrilles. They are unique. I especially love the comic book balloon in the middle of this, even if it was a lie.

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  22. OlgaMarch 29, 2017 at 4:48 PM

    The change in form of the messenger is a bit nightmarish; from one of reaching for the stars to leaving a message of an ominous ending. We all need to sift out the lies we are told. Sounds like a possible political statement.

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  23. Bekkie SanchezMarch 30, 2017 at 11:01 AM

    Nice!

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