Aphelion Issue 301, Volume 28
December 2024 / January 2025
 
Editorial    
Long Fiction and Serials
Short Stories
Flash Fiction
Poetry
Features
Series
Archives
Submission Guidelines
Contact Us
Forum
Flash Writing Challenge
Forum
Dan's Promo Page
   

Quiet Desperation

Be not too noisy

by Richard Tornello


I
The quiet before the storm, subsuming in the brain and psyche/Only to explode
Or soon to erupt and brain’s short circuit/ carry on as if nothing has happened
One day to the next/ j-us-t doing doing.
All potential drained,stomped by the everyday/requirements of existence and the dollar
Euro, Pound or yen/ the accoutrements of good living abound, underneath this truth all lies/
To one’s self toward others.
The drinks@ the bar, @ the coffee shop@ the table alone, what is true and real/what lies
Underneath these layers of living, stratified thinking, layered years, not living to
Ones/hers/his self/ what ever that may be was.
This is living watch the tube/screen,live through others, be part of the team, for all
Intents and purposes/not real. Only the player, the serf, beholden to the owner,
Traded bought and sold, chattel/cattle, they are real, everyone else?
Cows milked/bilked and how far removed from reality.

II
Today, 20 years ago, tomorrow what will it be for most? Survival it’s not quite.
Middle class is quiet/Upper class-ruling elite they exist don’t deny,
the tip of that iceberg was seen observers Viewed in Mr. Cheney VP,
one saw if you really looked, what power really is about/throughout the ages
today, 2000 years ago tomorrow, Tianan Men Square here there/ no right no
wrong j-us-t how it works, most real.

III
Underneath the smiles, look @ the eyes, look into the eyes/the truth/only
A few are real we all no/how to mouth the words, play the game
act the act upon the stage. And we do what else
can we do/choices/a revolution/of 1?
What revolution but around again, changing not changing and why
Would any one care.
Go to work, make do, make out, make play follow the herd
What’s on the street/screen/tube prechewed, news entertainment
Even the thinking class, a scrap a fight for
Position one, is too bold, no sale and then.
You’re dead they ate your head.


© 2009 Richard Tornello

Find more by Richard Tornello in the Author Index.

Comment on this story in the Aphelion Forum

Return to Aphelion's Index page.