They call it intoxicating. Spices full
on humidity, shrinking circles of heat run
down the small of my back, diesel
drips in sweat, salt on my lips— so
why do lungs full of carcinogens
feel like a relief? In the end you tire
of the faces, always staring, smiling
all the time like marigold hearts
worn on loose sleeves. Not so much
an assault on senses as an attack
on my sanity; overindulgence
in samsara. No wonder, then, this
belief in rebirth, endless circles of pain
to match this growing pain in my head:
There are, after all, only so many faces
to go round
© copyright David F. Barker 2012
Peterborough, England, BST
Ciscography 
David, stunning and vivid imagery – (made me need to take a deep breath of fresh air) and I love the last line: “There are, after all, only so many faces
to go round” !!
LikeLike
this makes me think of a verse by niki giovanni….it is entitled sometimes…consider it good, she is one of my favs…
LikeLike
very cool capture… india must be fascinating but also a little overwhelming as well.. love the marigold hearts
worn on loose sleeves…
LikeLike
Excellent, vivid imagery.
Favourite lines – Not so much
an assault on senses as an attack
on my sanity; overindulgence
in samsara.
Very nice write here.
LikeLike
Your mind dude. 🙂 “smiling all the time like marigold hearts”. So elegant. If I could ever be half the man you are.
LikeLike
Really nice post David!
LikeLike
overindulgence in Samsara – a wonderful wonderful line. I have to say I did not get the India connection exactly until looking at the tags. You may wish to make that clearer as of course once I saw it everything clicked clicked clicked – the marigolds, the diesel, the exhaust, which I’d read but taken almost metaphorically before or about thepast. (Maybe adding something into the title/ or maybe not if you don’t want it to be so specific.) But it is especially good about India. (I’ve traveled there a fair amount.)
Have you read Rilke’s The Notebooks of Malte Laurid Brigge – wonderful parts about faces?
k.
LikeLike
ha there are only so many faces…true that 🙂
LikeLike
marigold hearts ❤
LikeLike
Thank you! No, I haven’t read Rilke’s book but I will look out for it.
LikeLike
Oh, thanks Pete! Today I feel like half a man…;)
LikeLike
Thank you very much!
LikeLike
Thanks very much Betty!
LikeLike
right right haha understood. 🙂
LikeLike
David, this is tremendous- I mean, for me, it is relatable, and the way you’ve laid out these feelings and ideas is so true to life. I wish I’d written this line:
like marigold hearts
worn on loose sleeves
just wonderful imagery.
Hope you’re well.
LikeLike
If living there is anything like talking to “outsource techies” I would go raving mad I think. No doubt it is beautiful, fascinating, constantly changing (all of which I get from your poem) but congested, crazy, and being an “outsider” wow, I’m not sure I could do it; but everyone who goes seems more vibrant and happier for the experience. I’ll just keep reading your poems and experience the thrill vicariously, please. Loved the poem.
LikeLike
A cool capture !
LikeLike
Your poetry never seize to amaze me David, always a word or two to stay with me for a while, always food for thought, rich enough to inspire! I love the “marigold hearts” very much! Thank you!
LikeLike
Every now and then I stumble on a writer here. Yay! This is a beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you so much, I appreciate it!
LikeLike
Thank you so much – and I appreciate your comments too, and your poetry… still thinking ‘moonlight sonata’ – will do it!
LikeLike
Thank you Gay – I do appreciate it!
LikeLike
Thank you so much Emma! I do appreciate it, your time and your talents. Yes, I’m ok and hope you’re doing fine too.
LikeLike
our world needs more trees and fewer folks =)
LikeLike
I actually love the subtleties of the connections in this poem … I love that I slowly ‘get it’ , feel the belief, the doubt, the weariness, the wondering what it is all about.
LikeLike
So many wonderful lines and images, David…wonderful writing!
LikeLike