It was in that lonely room
Maria cried,
Her Tennessee tears
Trailing
In torrents
Down rosacea-like cheeks.
That was years ago,
When the difference
Between the fog and the moon
Was as indiscernible as black and white
In that blanket of
Gloomy gray.
She then said she was dying—
Yet despite the crying—
No one could tell.
That was so many years ago—
Gone by—
Past our youthful days,
Naive and carefree,
Where we stood tall and straight
And we went to bed
Way past late.
But that August sun is gone
And here we are
In a parking lot of past regret—broken dreams—
Stuck between then and everything after.
Maria—as if in another place—
Stares blankly,
Looking upward
To the point of no return.
“I long for the free fall,”
She said, as if a ghost
Moaning morosely to herself.
“The mercurial descent—
“The ground’s embrace—
“I’ve been thinking,
Why not jump?”
She says nothing more.
‘Round here, there’s nothing to really say,
And no reason to ever play.
Feeling so pressured—under the gun—
We waste away
While we
Hesitate.
But, now,
it seems too late.
“Don’t jump Maria,”
I cry—
My Hollywood eyes
Filled with tears
Replacing stars.
But we were never stars—
We never really joined together
As constellations.
We chased dreams
We ignored Maria’s screams—
She was so pretty
At that scene—
Her Latina dances,
The life of a party
Destined to end
Emphatically in despair
Because,
Blinded, our need for validity
Outweighed—
Crushed under tons—
Maria’s soul.
“Don’t jump Maria!”—
I scream in hollowed haunt.
She’s not
even yet
up
there.
She’s still beside me—
Looking up—
And,
Tragically,
She cannot hear
A ghost who’s never
Really
Been there.
© 2024 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
-
Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Offline) - Published: December 7th, 2024 08:17
- Comment from author about the poem: Inspired by the songs “Round Here”, and “Mr. Jones” from the Counting Crows album, August and Everything After. This is, by no means, an official interpretation of either of these songs, rather, my own deep exploration into both songs asking this basic question, what if the Marias in both songs are the same person? The narrative followed. Mental health is a challenge to navigate. Know you are not alone. For immediate support in the U.S., contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, or text ‘HOME’ to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line. Both services are available 24/7 and offer free, confidential support. International readers can find local mental health resources by visiting organizations like Befrienders Worldwide or the International Association for Suicide Prevention, which provide directories of helplines and support services across different countries.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 37
- Users favorite of this poem: aDarkerMind, Cassie58, NinjaGirl, Teddy.15
Offline)
Comments13
Good write T.
Meanwhile (meaning something daft is to follow), I jumped off a wall but landed in a pond two feet below. Doh! lol.
I would expect no less and would have been sad if the daftness were left out! 🤣 Now I at least know that if you’re considering jumping friend, I need to hand you a towel! Doh!! 😂🤣 In all seriousness…thank you Orchi! Humor is always welcome…as is your time and feedback! ❤️🙏
Something close to my heart Mental health, i found the poem fascinating and questioning and thoroughly enjoyed the read, Thank you Tristan
You are welcome, Tobani! Your time and feedback are always valued! This was a spontaneous hit of inspiration while listening to the Counting Crows! Ah…music! Thank you for your affirmation of its content and message. Much appreciated, my friend! 🙏❤️
You are very welcome
there is not a single book of poetry in the world, that this write would not belong Tristan.
an outstanding write on mental health my friend.
an outstanding write of poetry.....!
take a bow and enjoy the applause.
Wow! Melvin! Thank you for those kindest and sincere words! I take them to heart and am humbled by your response to my poem. Truly. ☺️❤️ Thank you so much. The two songs really spoke to me in a new way and this was the result! Again, I am humbled! Thank you for your time, support, and most gracious feedback! 🙏❤️
Wonderful that you were inspired by two different songs to create this master piece. The subject matter touches so many families. Thank you for raising awareness to mental health problems. Loved the alliteration in the first stanza. That set up the whole piece and it was a delight to read Tristan. Have a good Saturday.
Cassie, thank you so very much my dear friend. Yes…indeed. It was that first alliterative roll, so to speak, that made me realize how invested I was in this poem. The inspiration was there…but when that came our, I knew the muse was indeed there! Funny how she works on us, you know? 🥰 Anyway, you are very welcome Cassie. Thank you as well. I know you put yourself out there too. That is the only way the stigma gets broken. I am sire this is not Adam Duritz’s official interpretation of Maria…but I am glad I gave her voice to her…and I hope Adam, whom I very much admire, would feel for this Maria…even if she isn’t his vision for her. Anyway, I’ve rambled on now. But all
Of this to say thank you sincerely and I am glad it resonated. 🤗❤️
As human beings, we all share, and experiences, though they have their many differences. This poem pulls from my past many threads that weave a worn fabric. It evoked many emotions which is the sign of true art. It is highly emotional and dark as well. Very nicely written Tristan. It shows an artists care.
Awww! Thank you so much. An artists touch…I will cherish that compliment in my heart all my days, my friend! Thank you dearly, fellow artist and poet! I much appreciate you! 🙏❤️
A wonderful, moving and
heart rendering write!! 😢
Suicide lines and those
mental health resources,
really do help in this fight!! 🙏
Thanks for sharing my friend!!
Best regards ✌️ 🕊️ Thad
Indeed…have been there and needed them! They are so vital! Thank you my friend for everything. I deeply mean that! Many toasts (NA for me any more 🍼😂…better than ☠️). But for you my friend…as many of whatever libation(s) you love 🥂 🍻
Like the echoes of a bell just rung or the after image of a candle’s flickering flame, so does this poem and its last stanza remain imprinting indelibly at the core: “ And,
Tragically,
She cannot hear
A ghost who’s never
Really
Been there.”
It has completely undone me.
Oh wow, friend! I mean…thank you. And, honestly, I get what you mean. Those me are two very personal songs for me…each for different reasons…as is that band. Anyway…exploring my idea lead me to that conclusion and undid me too as I penned it…well ✏️ to be precise. It undid my understandings of those songs, of my own mental health struggles…and a lot more. So, I get that and…truthfully…and I hope this doesn’t sound corny or put on because it is not…your comment really moved and undid me in a good way! So…thank you. I will cherish your analysis and response all my days. ❤️🙏
Still undone here, but in a good way… finding my way back to equilibrium. Many blessed returns mate 👍🏻
☺️
How easy is it, to ignore one's screams, when chasing our own dreams? How tragic is it, that one must die, for us to realize what was a cry? Failing to understand their pain is a burden we carry, aren't you glad we didn't give anyone a burden for us?
Thank you so much my friend! You have masterfully distilled the core messages of “Maria’s Last Dance” into a series of brilliant rhetorical questions. ☺️ Thank you so much for reading and engaging, and favoriting. Your support is so very much.appreciated. I am glad the poem resonated! 🙏❤️
I have plenty of questions, that's not a difficult feat! It's only the answers we lack.
Those, my friend, are wise words. Ah...but knowing/asking the right questions...what philosophy is all about! 🙏
Such a well described and heartfelt lament. And you are so right about mental health, having struggled to find my way in it for too many years now. Very nice work here.
Thank you so much Dan—for your time and comment, as well as for sharing your own experience. I agree 💯 that mental health can is so vital to talk about as I, too, have my own mental health struggles. It’s important to break the stigma and reach out…and it has been so very helpful, cathartic/healing, for me to write….as I am sure it is for you too. Anyway, all of that to say, thank you! Your time and feedback are very much appreciated! 🙏❤️
'And here we are
In a parking lot of past regret—broken dreams—
Stuck between then and everything after.' - really very impressively and poetically narrated story... best wishes,
Thank you cellinic! Your time and feedback are most appreciated! Again, thank you and best wishes to you as well! 🙏❤️
Fantastic work.
Thank you so much Thomas! Much appreciated! 🙏❤️
An amazing and outstanding piece of poetry dear Tristan, kudos on the emotion and language my friend 💜
Thank you so much Teddy! I really appreciate that so much my dear friend! 💜
hauntingly sad poem. impressed by the deep emotions
Thank you, my friend. Indeed, it the emotions run deep in this one and I am so thankful you found the poem resonated. Thank you so much for your time and your feedback! ❤️🙏
such poems always touch a deep chord within me - so hope to see more from your end, and now some happier ones too
As the inspiration hits. Thanks friend! 🙏🖤
hope it flows naturally always - all the best
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