Inside Out

Garth Rakumakoe

Feeling in limbo, I am defeated

Uprooted

Faith and validation are wavering

Label tongue out, seams

flapping in the breeze

I feel unreal, like some fiction character

There but not there, like the mannequin

no one sees, invisible

and naked

 

Ravaged

by my own narcissistic expectations

turned inside out,

veins screaming like buttons

facing the snow

I am torn – betrayed

by the same trust I betrayed,

acidities in the word-deed irony

of two wretched vengeful hearts

 

Zips stuck, pockets exposed

peg barely keeping me on the line,

I am on the other side

of a wormhole, window shopping

how things were, or should be

only, the store is closed

no bargain sale, on redemption day

 

This may be the actual

real world, of stuffed

mismatched color virtues

wrinkled and tumble dried;

though never ironed

Perhaps loyalty’s quality

is an overrated double stitch

It seems, when genuine still had longevity

what seemed real was the fantasy

 

The notice on the window reads;

There are no love guarantees

made in China

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Comments +

Comments7

  • L. B. Mek

    'Ravaged
    by my own 'narcissistic'
    expectations'..
    (there are no 'expectations'
    in narcissism, dear poet
    All, is as willed - it just is
    or if it fails - to be
    its existence, degraded
    to irrelevance)
    ergo, your way of thinking
    doesn't denote, narcissistic tendencies
    rather, it demonstrates your lack
    of it..
    When the world is so full of mindset's
    that oppose our own, we
    far - too readily, assume
    and internalise, the wrongness
    we perceive, in that self-sabotaging
    'it must be me', ideology.
    When in fact
    try: as the world might
    its us - stubborn few
    who see, clearly
    its just, we're so much
    a minority
    our vision is belittled, to fantasy.
    'mismatched color virtues
    wrinkled and tumble dried;
    though never ironed
    Perhaps loyalty’s quality
    is an overrated double stitch
    It seems, when genuine still had longevity
    what seemed real was the fantasy'
    (a great write!
    with seemingly endless, depth
    thanks for sharing)

    • Garth Rakumakoe

      Phwew!... - Where do I start dear reader? An in-depth analysis, I must concede, worth its own very heavy weight in gold. By virtue of narcissism being a rather too self serving and parasitic a trait, it is not far fetched, well, at least from my view point, that the narcissist can have overbearing expectations that only serve to feed his narcissistic tendencies. I am humbled however, that my analogy disassociates me personally from such a trait. You are right; we are too little a minority, who see past the smoke and mirrors. I cannot thank you enough. I am enriched, and I give gratitude.

    • Neville



      Be very proud of these words, now fixed in time & dated this 26th day of November 2021 for always & forever ... Neville

      • Garth Rakumakoe

        Thank you Neville. Much appreciated.

      • Nicholas Browning

        Expectations betray us, and everything we thought we knew could very well turn out to be a subjective viewpoint some far-away scientist told our ancestors to believe, and so we do in turn. The battle with the self is one of the most noble, for to even attempt to battle anything else we must first survive ourselves.
        Just my own perspective, not preaching or anything lol.

        A wonderful read, Garth. I very much enjoyed. Have a like on me, free of charge.

        • Garth Rakumakoe

          No truer words have been spoken Nicholas. Your visit always adds so much value. I am richer. Thank you.🙏🏼

        • Goldfinch60

          Very powerful words Garth, one can only hope that love will be there for all in time.

          Andy

          • Garth Rakumakoe

            Without love, we lose so much. Very true Andy.

          • Neville


            I thought I left my thoughts on 'Inside Out' yesterday when I first visited .. but for some reason, for a micro-second it seemed that I hadn't .. but then .. I had ... there is something strange going on here .. Anyway, it is just as good today as it was on Friday 26th November 2021 ............................. very good indeed .. Neville

            • Garth Rakumakoe

              Lol, you actually did good sir, but much thanks for a second grace gifted one!

            • Caring dove

              Really liked the read … interesting words , great flow )

              • Garth Rakumakoe

                Thank you fellow Poet. It means a lot...🙏🏼

              • SharonMoemise

                I continue to applaud you. From the day you started publishing, you deliver wonderful poetry. Another great read, Garth



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