8/29/2012

The Puppet

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Sometimes he's subtle

Except when he's not

He lifts a finger

And she dances a jig

Keeping time to his tune

Wondering what’s come over her

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Written for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads where Mama Zen asks us to write a poem in twenty-five words or less, using a "power image," one we return to over and over.

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Posted by PattiKen
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18 comments:

  1. Laurie KolpAugust 29, 2012 at 3:06 PM

    This one made me smile...

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  2. Maude LynnAugust 29, 2012 at 3:22 PM

    I had the complete opposite response. I found the piece really chilling.

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  3. AnonymousAugust 29, 2012 at 3:38 PM

    very good...and my response was more in line with MZ

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  4. Brian MillerAugust 29, 2012 at 4:23 PM

    when someone has that much control over another...i def find it to be quite scary...

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  5. hedgewitchAugust 29, 2012 at 5:05 PM

    The poem seems light at first,an easy metaphor, but when you read it again after watching the video, it was indeed chilling, even frightening in that 'evil clown' way, except of course, I'm identifying with puppet.

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  6. Carol Steel August 29, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    Wow, "keeping time to his tune." Sure hope this is fantasy and fiction; if not, then RUN. Now. Spooky images.

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  7. Day DreamerAugust 29, 2012 at 7:03 PM

    Interesting view of the prompt! I wonder whether she was fighting his control.

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  8. MaryAugust 29, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    The idea of person as puppet chills me to the core. Powerful write.

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  9. kaykualaAugust 29, 2012 at 8:30 PM

    Found it amusing but frightening as well. Nice write, Patti!

    Hank

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  10. HelenAugust 29, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    I've known way too many 'puppets' in my life ... your poem is beautifully composed!!!

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  11. HannahAugust 30, 2012 at 1:59 AM

    Hmmm...I see the chilling in it but at the same time in a sensual way if in a "moment, " with a lover...this metaphor could work this way too.

    Well written, Patti!!

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  12. SreejaAugust 30, 2012 at 3:59 AM

    an interesting image.....sometimes we too are puppets.....

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  13. Grandmother MaryAugust 30, 2012 at 5:07 AM

    And she too, if she's brave, finds she's being controlled and cuts the strings. Good one, Patti.

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  14. Vaishali JainAugust 30, 2012 at 5:19 AM

    Interesting! I had to re-read it to get the essence all the more. Very nicely written! :)

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  15. izzyAugust 30, 2012 at 8:50 AM

    Puppets are great teaching tools- but they can also be spooky!

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  16. JaniceAugust 30, 2012 at 9:41 AM

    Oh,dear...time to cut the strings and escape.

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  17. SusanAugust 30, 2012 at 12:42 PM

    I'm amazed that I have not seen this amazing performance before. My former cat companion, Pierette, was named for Pierrot. This sad clown in the French commedia tradition is well used in your poem!

    Brilliant. Brevity even enhances your power image.

    So much is going on here: Male-female, parent-child, government-individual, pusher-junkie--and as the latter dances on strings, she may wonder indeed! There is a sense that she took the strings willingly, and then the realization that cutting loose would mean death. Better never to have wanted what the pusher had to sell? Not to your film-maker. But you leave the question open.

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  18. MargaretAugust 30, 2012 at 7:46 PM

    It actually haunts me, especially now that I watched the video and how the puppet is just a heap on the floor at the end... Chilling.

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Thoughts? I would love to hear from you.

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