“Soul Trained”
Most afternoons,
the place held its usual quiet,
the kind that settles
when you’re the one
turning the lock from the inside.
You’d drop your bag by the heater,
let the screen take up its post,
steady voice filling the room
like a light left on
for whoever needed it.
He’d close the show
the same way every time—
a line shaped to meet you
at the frame,
marking the edge of the room
without pushing you through it.
“And as always in parting,
we wish you love, peace, and soul.”
That was the moment—
the house paused, waiting
to see which way you’d go.
Then the click as the set went dark,
the room folding back
into its usual shape.
You’d step out,
down the narrow stairwell
that carried
every footfall
from the building,
its railing cool under your hand,
evening air rising to meet you
as you pushed through
the side gate—the metal giving
a short, tired rattle as it
settled back into place.
.
-
Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: March 27th, 2026 05:05
- Comment from author about the poem: The full sign-off, of Soul Train, famously delivered by the show's creator and original host Don Cornelius, usually went: "And you can bet your last money, it's all gonna be a stone gas, honey! I'm Don Cornelius, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace... and soul!
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 10
- Users favorite of this poem: sorenbarrett, Mutley Ravishes, Tristan Robert Lange
- In collections: 2026.
Offline)
Comments6
Cryptic again unsure of the intended interpretation I have to follow the feeling in reading it. It to me is a metaphor of death and the passing of life's show, that when over we are faced with the glow of a light left on behind us and a steady voice behind as we leave our possessions behind. It is gentle not forcing but allowing one to pass. The parting words of one wishing love, peace and soul. The lines "the house paused, waiting to see which way you’d go" to me refers to the traditional view of heaven or hell but may well be taken as any path. Here the end as the set goes black and the last lines of the cold railing like a cold body is set against the the rattle (death rattle) of the metal gate as nature settles back into place. So final and cold but peaceful as well. Masterful my friend
I loved this, even though it went right over my head. I had to read Soren`s comment to get some idea of what you are saying. You`re on another level, Arqios.
Sorry about that, Mutley. Didn’t mean for it to get intense. Thanks for giving it a chance🙏🏻🕊️
No need to apologize, Arqios! The more intense, combined with the more relaxed, the better.
It's lovely but over my head as well. Would like to be able to decipher.
arqios, this holds space in a way that feels real… the repetition, the closing words, the movement back into the world. It captures how something ordinary can quietly carry meaning. Strong piece, dearest friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Well, if it's over some poets heads, it must be over mine too. when will I use my brain cells fully? I got 4 now! lol.
A solidly constructed account of unvarying routine. It’s the show, Just as Hard Quiz has this consistent as steel (or should that be brass?) framework. Still a journey going on there.
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