Magic Realism
The curtains close,
the show is over.
Disappeared, in a puff of smoke.
A neat trick,
but can he bring her back
to take a bow?
He stands there in his robes,
ancient book of spells
clutched to his heart.
With beatific smile
he assures us that
we shall meet her again.
Filing out to the strains
of her favourite tune,
in a sense she is still with us.
think I am getting the wrong end of the stick with this – so I turn to the title … perhaps because I have been to a funeral recently I am picturing a funeral – but that is not what the title is telling me so the next thought occurs to me – (and I have thought about this before) if the reader has something/some experience/some expectation of the subject matter (maybe the author/poet always writes comedy for example) then they assume a lot/jump to conclusions – does that make sense (?) – sorry but that is probably a discussion for another time … so back to the poem – “beatific” is a new word to me – so thank you – it is interesting how your work is becoming less wordy but stronger at the same time – that last line is working very hard for me and clutching the book to “his heart” makes me feel this is more than just a show – I still want to believe it is something more than a magic act????? go on – put me out of my misery!
You seem to be hot on the scent, Sarah! Yes, HOT (as in cremation).
Funeral was what the poem said to me. I think the title works well – I can see what Sarah’s saying but I like the slant the poem’s taking – Bible = book of spells; priest = conjuror. The second stanza works especially well.
Now, to the final stanza. I know, I know. However, my point regarding final stanzas/lines is this – when a poem works really well – as this one does – making us look at things in a new light, we don’t really need to have a summing up, or a point being emphasised, or the whole thing rounded off. It’s good to be left wondering, to make up our own minds…
In this case, the poem has already done its job of making us sit up and take notice… in an especially engaging way… there’s something very poignant and different about its view of funerals. I like the ‘favourite tune’ reference but feel that the final line has taken on the voice of the priest rather than the poem’s unique off-kilter tone.
I’m not suggesting losing the last stanza completely but having a re-think about it.
I couldn’t agree more, Robbie, with what you say about final stanzas. AND I hope this last stanza does leave the reader pondering the meaning of the poem. The final line is very much in the voice of the poet rather than the priest. Magic Realism: there may not literally be life after death, but religion expresses in magical or poetic terms the truth that the deceased live on in the memory of those who knew them.
Yes, you’re right, very much in the voice of the poet.
I really loved this it seems like a double-edged poem, possibly a funeral, possibly a magic show. In either case it’s great!!