- Non-Erotic Poetry
- Inquisition at the Council Chambers
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Click hereThere were no cardinal robes
nor guards in tin-knocked armor,
no tender tools of destruction
awaiting the nimble fingers
of their tortured masters.
There were no charges
read in that hollow court --
no cantored voices of dusty,
stuffed men reciting the doctrine
of their blinded justice.
There was nothing more
among the twelve than the fear
that they might be sullied by me,
though I stood there naked,
seeking redemption in silence.
There was nothing more
than hallowed whispers, as they
proclaimed judgement masqued
as convenient truth: You cannot
outlive the treasons of your past.
- COMMENTS
jd4georgeover 19 years agoAuthor...because the questions were good'uns!
The multi-layered use of "cantored" was a gift from the Muse... (hopefully, she hears this, and will be kind to me!). I wanted the illusion to rhythmic cantering, (as in horse hooves); I wanted the religious "chant" overtones, and the reference to "cantors". I also realized the homonymic sound to "candor". So, ultimatlely I went with "cantored voices" rather than "solemn bullshit".
As for "masqued", it was an intentional affectation. Masqued, as in "obscurred" or "protected". I also wanted the classical reference to "masques"... theatrical, molded faces. The Inquisition references also seemed to need something more than simply "masked" or "hidden".
Finally, the "tender tools of destruction" was purposeful juxtaposition, as in "ferocious delicasy". I wanted a rather soft oxymoron, hopefully capturing the sentiment of Oscar Wilde when he wrote: "Each man kills the thing he loves, by each let this be heard. The brave does it with a sword, the coward with a kiss."
In reality, they said someting akin to: "We respect you, and what you've done, BUT...". It was so tender... so destructive. Bottomline, I was publicly pilloried and gutted with tender, non-objectionable words.
Ergo, the convenient truth.
flyguy69over 19 years agoIt is a very strong poem, JD. I love clever word play like the verbiation (verbalization? verbitation?) of cantor.
I am puzzled by a couple phrases: "the tender tools of destruction": in what way are they tender? And why the francophilic spelling of "masque"?
The final stanza is, ironically, a convenient truth.
Angelineover 19 years agoThe poem makes its point with honesty and clarity. It feels right when you read it. Good writing, buddy. :)
