“The Topography Ahead”
I found a spark
in the dark of our raft,
"Go to hell" whispered,
on this soul-forged craft.
But then came the Boy
with his books and those keys,
With "style" in his pockets
and "rules" on his knees.
He spoke of life’s honours,
the way things are done,
The "siv’lized" method
of "having our fun."
And my new-grown spirit,
so fragile and thin,
Bowed down to the logic
of original sin.
I played at his games
while a man stood in chains,
I traded my blood
for his theatrical stains.
For Tom knows the map,
and Tom knows its law,
And Tom sees the merit
in every tiny flaw.
But the heart has a limit;
this soul has a gate,
It can’t be bartered
for a "siv’lised" state.
If the price of our parlour
is Jim in a cage,
Then I’ll smudge out the ink
from its very last page.
The town is a shadow,
their rules are a lie,
A slow-motion choking
beneath our blue sky.
So I’ll head for that sunset,
Its wild, glowing, red—
I’m lighting out
for the topography ahead.
.
-
Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: March 21st, 2026 05:36
- Comment from author about the poem: Website a bit wonky today.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 11
- Users favorite of this poem: cellinic, sorenbarrett, Tristan Robert Lange, Katie B.
- In collections: 2026.
Offline)
Comments7
Dear arqios, this is genuinely amazing and wonderful, sincere and deep! Best wishes for the World Poetry Day!
Thanks dear friend! Have an excellent weekend 🕊️🙏🏻
many thanks!
Go to hell the spot and are we on the river Styx? Then comes the new boy is the Christianity and Bible (new book) and the concept of original sin (it is known for kneeling). Siv'lized there is something more in the way this word is spelled that I am missing Cryptic. But Christians do tend to think of themselves as civilized despite all their atrocities in the name of Christ. The concept of original sin, a man in chains and trading blood for man's "theatrical stains " all sound so familiar. Religious law can not be accepted when it goes against what we know or feel is right. I myself have headed for the sunset and the topography ahead. Great write Cryptic. As for the website a couple of weeks ago I kept getting a persistent add to watch a video that I could not x out of and kept reappearing very annoying, it had the website logo on it.
It was inspired the raft with Huck, Tom, and Jim; so very well within your reading of it which is much appreciated as always🙏🏻🕊️
You are most welcome Cryptic. Ah yes I read Huckleberry Finn years ago and should have realized.
As have I, decades ago now and a handful of renderings in film 🎥 sometimes the mind goes back and nitpicks which serve as inspiration for spouting. 🙏🏻🕊️
arqios, “If the price of our parlour is Jim in a cage” is the line that locks it in. Everything sharpens there…no abstraction, just a clear line drawn. Well done on this...and yikes on the website's wonk! LOL! 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Tucked away enough to play the scene… so satisfying🙏🏻🕊️
A good topo-wotsit write A.
Tops of thanksgiving dear O🙏🏻🕊️
You're a master, what else can I say.
Blessings, Katie
Thank you so much, Katie B. It felt like the time to revisit impressions of literature from younger days or even former mindsets 🙏🏻🕊️
Only read Huck Finn but I see what you're saying here. Nice one.
Thanks, Kevin; seeing is halfway met and even more! Always appreciated 🙏🏻🕊️
Always go forward to the light Rik, I always do.
Andy
That’s the general direction for us, thanks Andy 🙏🏻🕊️
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