Notice of absence from Tristan Robert Lange
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
Friends, I’m doing my best to keep up with comments. 😅 I’m still current on my own poems and first replies on others’ work, but this season has been a bit of a twister. Figured I’d drop a quick note so you don’t think I’ve vanished or gone flaky.
Read. Write. Rise. Realize. 🤘💀🖤
It’s not despair—
This, my silent prayer—
To exist in disrepair.
In a world of success,
Reveal me as failure—
A hot, unfixable mess—
Set me up for
Erasure.
Let imposters posture
Like wolves in the pasture.
An appeal to the crowd—
Ignore truth’s demise
By remaining loud.
And, my Lord, my God,
This, right here, is where
I sit down and prepare—
As I haunt alone in prayer—
Forever labeled disrepair.
I once was scared;
This time, I am certain,
The vanishing’s been
Declared.
POET’S NOTE:
Part of the ongoing series: The Rutted Road.
© 2026 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
First published on tristanrobertlange.com, March 14, 2026.
Tittu
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Author:
Tristan Robert Lange (
Online) - Published: March 14th, 2026 07:26
- Comment from author about the poem: I’m now published in an anthology featuring authors from across the Poconos, PA. All proceeds benefit the Pocono Liars Club — a collective of authors and editors dedicated to supporting and mentoring local writers. Available in paperback and Kindle, please consider purchasing one and supporting a great cause. https://a.co/d/58uxM69
- Category: Spiritual
- Views: 28
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Teddy.15, cellinic
- In collections: The Rutted Road.
Online)
Comments9
A very Powerful statement. Your poem explores themes of despair, failure, and self-identity in a world that values success and appearance over authenticity. The poet grapples with feelings of inadequacy and the pressure to conform to societal standards. The notion of "disrepair" symbolizes both a personal struggle and a broader commentary on the human condition, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging one's vulnerabilities and the reality of feeling lost or erased in a world that often disregards those who do not fit the mold of success.
Friendship, this means a lot…you really stepped into the core of it—that tension between failure, identity, and a world that rewards the mask over the truth. That “disrepair” you named…yeah, that’s exactly it. I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now circling around, but I appreciate this deeply. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Excellent Tristan. We are all in disrepair.
Katie, this hit me…that simple truth in what you said. We are all in disrepair, whether we admit it or not. And I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now catching up. I really appreciate this. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Tristan I am not sure why but the first thing that came to mind was the rebellion in failure. It is the ultimate defiance against society and this all the more so if one is capable of success or even genius. To throw it in the face of cultural, national, family demand and say that is what you get you are not worth the effort, I refuse, it would be an insult for me to try. I will satisfy myself and you all go find someone else more gullible than I. Someone that believes in your farce.
Soren, this really landed…that idea of failure as rebellion, as refusal to give oneself to something unworthy. That’s not collapse…it’s defiance. There’s something sharp and honest in that framing that cuts right through. I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now circling back, and I appreciate this deeply. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
No problem Tristan you are most welcome
So you are in that rutted road, when adding the word 'forever' to 'labelled disrepair'
Popeye says the UK adds an extra 'L' to some words, as in 'labelled'. Also extra 'U's as in 'colour'.
Some churches - not all of them! - can feel a bit like that solitary pew. We may feel like yelling: 'Anyone alive in 'ere?!' if it seems dull and dreary.
My friend, this made me smile…you caught both the weight of that “forever” and still found a bit of humor in it. That tension fits. Popeye's glug...oops...spot on in his British grammar and spelling, Evidently! LOL! And I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now catching up. Always grateful for you. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Popeye might be poetic, as in using 'fore'er sometimes for 'forever', for example.
Well, I'm sure he's done a poem called 'I'm fore'er gluggin' bubbles...!' What rubbish are we talking now? WCAT! lol.
WCAT indeed. Swoon!
Erm, what is WCAT, one enquires? The answer is - WCAT here!! heehee.
LOL! Right. WCAT. Don't like it! Well, all the same, WCAT. 🤣 Just follow the glugs. 🤣
Is it anything to do with a cat? Nooooooooooooo, we reply! lol.
Lost forwards .. and lost for words simultaneously spring to mind .. deeply dark but enlightening .. All Good Things, Neville 🖤✒️🐦⬛🐈⬛👍
Neville, this really landed…that sense of being lost forwards and lost for words at the same time. Movement and silence tangled together. That’s exactly the tension sitting underneath this piece. I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now circling around. I truly appreciate this. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Oh yes your last stanza is the lion of this poem 💜
Dearest Teddy, this hit me…that last stanza as the lion…yeah, that’s where it bares its teeth. And I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now catching up. I really appreciate you pointing that out. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
A wonderful statement, impressing, purposeful and demanding! Best wishes and a fave, my friend!
My friend, this really landed…that sense of it being purposeful and demanding. Not just existing, but pressing something forward. You caught that tone clean. I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now circling around. I truly appreciate you. 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Powerful work.
Thank you, Thomas!!! Much appreciated! And I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now catching up. Thanks again! 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
Beautiful. 👌✌️
Thank you, Safina!!! Much appreciated! And I’m sorry for the delay in getting back to you…just now catching up. Thanks again, dearest friend! 🕯️🙏🪶🖤
no need to apologize - i am trailing behind in my responses too - what with the festive season on, and the stream of visitors for Eid.
have a great weekend
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