A Couple More Poems From “Ten”

ten emilio perez miguel

Today I’d like to share a couple more poems from “Ten” with you. As I am sure you know, “Ten” is the book that I have just issued with the support of my long-standing friends from Rumbo Editorial.

The prequel to “Once“, “Ten” is split in six different parts that make up a single chapter. The poems I have included below come from the central part of the book. This is named “The Giver And Taker Of Life”, and it takes the shape of a passing day that ends up becoming a song.

I hope you like them! As usual, I look forwards to your every comment!

Flugelhorns

I count every single step from the end
Towards the outskirts of the beginning
You were the battle never worth winning
And the episode no-one should append –
Now the juxtaposition is thinning

Flugelhorns playing
Across an empty building, down an empty street
Amid a wasted dream, through nighttimes incomplete
Flugelhorns straying
Like the truth I loathe but I cling to nonetheless
Within my spent heart, like the thoughts I don’t possess
Like a guilty antiphon –
Why did you leave me alone?

I count every single mile from the end
Towards the remnants of the commencement
You were my one chance, my one investment
And the bitterest share and dividend –
Now you transcend my deepest resentment

Flugelhorns playing
Across an empty building, down an empty street
Amid a wasted dream, through nighttimes incomplete
Flugelhorns straying
Like the truth I loathe but I cling to nonetheless
Within my spent heart, like the thoughts I don’t possess
Like a guilty antiphon –
Why did you leave me alone?

Flugelhorns baying
Across an empty effect, down an empty cause
Amid a wasted dream, through immaculate flaws
Flugelhorns slaying
Like the immanence I refuse but I reckon
Within my spent heart, like the hopes I won’t beckon
Like the love I never shone –
Why did I leave you alone?

Appalling

Will the finis be like the inception?
The curtain of defiled diction falling
Like a shadow of affliction upon my heart
For I disgrace you
And I efface you
Then I embrace you
And it’s appalling

Must this be attached to my perception?
The tolling of nevertheless falling
Like an echo of selfishness upon my heart
For I possess you
And I transgress you
Then I address you
And it’s appalling

And I can’t desert you
Or divert you
From this spiral that has no end
Since I can’t reject you
Or eject you
From this habit to condescend

Must this be a rule with no exception?
The advent of acrimony falling
Like a poisonous litany upon my heart
For I maltreat you
And I deplete you
Then I entreat you
And it’s appalling

Will the finis be like the inception?
The curtain of defiled diction falling
Like a shadow of affliction upon my heart
For I disgrace you
And I efface you
Yes I debase you
And I deface you
Then I embrace you
And it’s appalling

Classrooms

Although there’s nothing left to fear
And nothing left to interfere
Down the hallway I overhear
Nonetheless pitched against nonetheless
In these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection
And the fractured windows relume
And I’m entangled in the loom
Of songs that seem fresh from a tomb
Entuned by phantasms with prim caress
In these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection

And I seem to forget and recall what hate is
And what remains of this interrupted fate is
Like a cross that I bear for you
Through wastelands of distance, or when standing near you
And if I do disestablish or besmear you
It’s just because I care for you

And though there’s nothing left to butch
And nothing to feel overmuch
Down the hallway I almost touch
Nonetheless pitched against nonetheless
In these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection
And some fury shines through although
Timidity still steals the show
From sigh to sigh, from throe to throe
Into each particle of loneliness
In these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection

And I seem to forget and recall what hate is
And what remains of this interrupted fate is
Like a cross that I bear for you
Through wastelands of distance, or when standing near you
And if I do disestablish or besmear you
It’s just because I care for you

And though there’s nothing left to earn
And nothing to adjust in turn
Down the hallway I can discern
Nonetheless pitched against nonetheless
In these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection
And it’s almost time to depart
From the spoils of this haunted heart
And halt in mid-sentence, apart
From the rumour, influence and duress
Of these empty classrooms at the other end of recollection

And I seem to forget and recall what hate is
And what remains of this interrupted fate is
Like a cross that I bear for you
Through wastelands of distance, or when standing near you
And if I do disestablish or besmear you
It’s just because I care for you