Nostalgia

by Angels-Symphony

Published December 5, 2010

In Poetry

NOTE: I had to write this for APLangComp and the ending was rushed because I ran out of time. It ended up being icky and not the way I wanted to end it, so I didn't include it because I'll finish it sometime when I'm not busy xD

You scream, but no one can hear you. You speak, but the world cannot comprehend your forgotten tongue. The people bear no ears for your words, no mouths to offer understanding, no hearts to sympathize with the ache of your own. In this familiar town, you now wander as a stranger. Your importance non-existent. Identity omitted from the minds of its inhabitants.

You are the hollow man whose soul was carved and gutted by father time. Move on, he whispers, move on. But you cannot. For your chest was stripped of a heart, and that heart forever remains chained to this city, this world.

This memory.

Prisoner to what was once your happiness, you do not wear the shackles. The shackles of the past wear you. Wear you down. Wear you out.

Both your body and mind are tired of this game. Drenched in the stinging saltwater of your tears, they cry to you, shedding tears of their own. They beg for you to let go, let go…

Let go.

Your grip loosens. The statue breathes. But your chest is empty. Your heart, wherever it lies, shrieks. And the shriek is omnipresent. It does not waver like the dying lights in your eyes.

Gnarled and exhausted as your hands may be, you drop to your knees and mold the empty air with your fingers. Helpless, and desperate not to be.

The map, you call out, Give me the map!

Like your identity in this world, the map does not exist. Press your fingers against the cobbled floors and you will find no path to relive this distant reverie. You will find the frost that blankets the ground to be icy and cruel as reality.

Stifle your sobs and hold back the tears that threaten to fall like rain along the rugged contours of your face. Instead, drift as a cloud where the air of the city is thickest. Give it one last look and capture the best of the moment.

Before you say goodbye.

You get but one photograph, Father Time tells you. Choose wisely.

Will you let this memory remain a cheerful one? Or will you transform it into something bitter? You dig a hand into your jacket pocket and discover a small metal object.

Didn’t you know you had the key all along?

Immediately, you unlock yourself, the click of the gears unwinding your frown. You toss the shackles behind you, wipe your antique tears on your sleeve, and dart for the meadow.

Descending, the light is descending. And the stream travels to the great beyond, its surface mirroring the inverse sea of blue. The air is thick here, but not thick enough to block the melody of her hum. Both rich and sweet, her voice is a treat that never expires.

[ending removed and TBC...]

Comments & reviews · 8
User avatar
CelticaNoir
Review
CelticaNoir wrote a review Review · Dec 19, 2010

Hi Angels!

What I wanted to say about this was - it was surreal. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love a good dash of surrealism, and that it's not a very common theme to come by. Your imagery is wonderfully descriptive, and I don't know any way to improve on your current writing style. Of course, I dare say that practice will bring out an even better writer in you than you already are. :D So keep on with what you're doing.

Robyn.

borntobeawriter wrote a review Review · Dec 6, 2010

Wow, Angels.

I just read the blog you wrote and decided to come read some of your work.

You are the hollow man whose soul was carved and gutted by father time. Move on, he whispers, move on. But you cannot. For your chest was stripped of a heart, and that heart forever remains chained to this city, this world.
Here, father time is in lower case but when you repeat it lower, it's in upper case.

Both your body and mind are tired of this game. Drenched in the stinging saltwater of your tears, they cry to you, shedding tears of their own. They beg for you to let go, let go…
Let go.
that last part I highlighted in bold, for some reason I pictured it being in italics. Perhaps it would add more emphasis and drama.

I really wish I could do an in-depth review, here, but you don't give us much to work with. My eyes were literally glued to the screen and I had to wonder at the end if we had learned anything about your story, or the person narrating it. Nope. BEsides the fact that he/she is in incredible pain, we learn nothing.

But that's ok, because your story was so beautiful, your words so haunting, I am still trying to unwrench my heart. I am incredibly moved by what I've just read.

You are a very talented writer, I'm sorry this wasn't much of a review :D

Tanya

User avatar
UCntCMee
Comment
UCntCMee commented Comment · Dec 5, 2010

Whoa. I'm totally jealous of how good your writing is! That was really good. Keep it up!

User avatar
NewDivides
Review
NewDivides wrote a review Review · Dec 5, 2010

I love this! I must say, you write wonderfully. The ending was perfect actually, I saw no changes or anything that could be done to make this story better. Keep up the good work!

This was my favorite line: :D

Prisoner to what was once your happiness, you do not wear the shackles. The shackles of the past wear you. Wear you down. Wear you out.

User avatar
ultraviolet
Review
ultraviolet wrote a review Review · Dec 5, 2010

Hi! First, I just want to say that this is really good. I can't really find much to comment on, but I did feel a bit of rhythm lapse in the first paragraph. (Note: This is just a personal preference on how I think the first paragraph would sound better as. Feel free to ignore this if you like it the way it is, but I just thought I'd voice this.)

You scream, but no one can hear you. You speak, but the world cannot comprehend your forgotten tongue. The people bear no ears for your words, no mouths to offer understanding. No hearts to sympathize with the ache of your own. In this familiar town, you now wander as a stranger, your importance non-existent. Identity omitted from the minds of its inhabitants.


Other than that first part, I found myself being lulled in. For part of it, I followed along but felt like I was being sung a soft lullaby, threatening sleep. Not bored sleep, though. This sometimes happens when I read something with a really good rhythm and beat.

The ending, however, felt... not rushed, exactly. Unfinished? But you said that. So I'll just ignore it for now. If you post the ending, PM me. I'd love to read it. Sorry for not being much help. xD

loveness, ultraviolet <3

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Sierra
Comment
Sierra commented Comment · Dec 5, 2010

Wow. This is amazing!! I love the emotion and your writing style is wonderful.

User avatar
Justagirl
Review
Justagirl wrote a review Review · Dec 5, 2010

Angels-Symphony wrote:NOTE: I had to write this for APLangComp and the ending was rushed because I ran out of time. It ended up being icky and not the way I wanted to end it, so I didn't include it because I'll finish it sometime when I'm not busy xD

You scream, but no one can hear you. You speak, but the world cannot comprehend your forgotten tongue. The people bear no ears for your words, no mouths to offer understanding, no hearts to sympathize with the ache of your own. In this familiar town, you now wander as a stranger. Your importance non-existent. Identity omitted from the minds of its inhabitants.
You are the hollow man whose soul was carved and gutted by father time. Move on, he whispers, move on. But you cannot. For your chest was stripped of a heart, and that heart forever remains chained to this city, this world.
This memory.
Prisoner to what was once your happiness, you do not wear the shackles. The shackles of the past wear you. Wear you down. Wear you out.
Both your body and mind are tired of this game. Drenched in the stinging saltwater of your tears, they cry to you, shedding tears of their own. They beg for you to let go, let go…
Let go.
Your grip loosens. The statue breathes. But your chest is empty. Your heart, wherever it lies, shrieks. And the shriek is omnipresent. It does not waver like the dying lights in your eyes.
Gnarled and exhausted as your hands may be, you drop to your knees and mold the empty air with your fingers. Helpless, and desperate not to be.
The map, you call out, Give me the map!
Like your identity in this world, the map does not exist. Press your fingers against the cobbled floors and you will find no path to relive this distant reverie. You will find the frost that blankets the ground to be icy and cruel as reality.
Stifle your sobs and hold back the tears that threaten to fall like rain along the rugged contours of your face. Instead, drift as a cloud where the air of the city is thickest. Give it one last look and capture the best of the moment.
Before you say goodbye.
You get but one photograph, Father Time tells you. Choose wisely.
Will you let this memory remain a cheerful one? Or will you transform it into something bitter?
You dig a hand into your jacket pocket and discover a small metal object.
Didn’t you know you had the key all along?
Immediately, you unlock yourself, the click of the gears unwinding your frown. You toss the shackles behind you, wipe your antique tears on your sleeve, and dart for the meadow.
Descending, the light is descending. And the stream travels to the great beyond, its surface mirroring the inverse sea of blue. The air is thick here, but not thick enough to block the melody of her hum. Both rich and sweet, her voice is a treat that never expires.


Wow. All I can say is wow. This is so well written I love it. You should definitely keep writing or I'll hunt you down and make you write. Literally.

Well, good luck!!
Alzora



My life, my loves, where are they now?
— Richard Linklater