The Unseen Stories We Tell

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RayNata, 2008



We sit
Each of us
Stories untold
Lodged in the extraneous items
We deem important enough
To carry with us
--a computer
--a book
--knitting
--the newspaper, splayed
Its pages having already absorbed
Those stories deemed important enough to tell, by someone

And like cattle
We lo and eye each other
Carefully and quickly
Sweeping past
Before contact
So that
Our stories
Leaking out of our eyes
Will remain unnoticed

copyright/all rights reserved Audrey Howitt 2013

Comments

  1. How very true these days...our own stories go unnoticed, lost in distraction...and the 'importance' of the stories of others..a fine write Audrey:-))

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  2. Some people are closed like a book never letting anyone see what's going on inside.

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  3. Our stories leaking out of our eyes - excellent and so true.

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  4. Don't forget the clashing of horns and the pawing of the ground...

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  5. "Our stories leaking out of our eyes" l like that, so many to tell but so few take time to listen. Good one Audrey

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  6. dang...that last stanza is vicious good...the allusion to the cattle, and the leaking eyes going unnoticed....

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  7. Great piece Audrey! I especially love that close.

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  8. That last stanza offers much to reflect ~ Have a good Sunday Audrey ~

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  9. That grabs me: "so that the stories leaking out of our eyes remain unnoticed". I so often think about all of the stories hidden within a person..........enough to keep us all writing forever.

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  10. I agree that leaking out of our eyes is a great way of putting it. It's true that we don't want to give away too much of our stories yet at the same time we do.

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  11. Audrey, this is good. To me it represents two people sitting side by side on a train or plane or bus, not letting their stories out to one another....stories remaining unnoticed, though perhaps both parties would really wish to be known.

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  12. We lo and eye each other is such a creative and musical way of putting all this. Very cool. K.

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  13. Sounds like New Yorkers. When I lived in NY I noticed quickly that some people try very hard not to make eye contact, as if "stories will leak out".

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  14. brings to mind an airport/bus-stand/station or some such place or may be even the inside of a train.evocative piece.

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  15. This battle to go unnoticed is probably more revealing of truth than the usual story a person opts to give.

    You perfectly described so many:

    "Lodged in the extraneous items
    We deem important enough
    To carry with us
    --a computer
    --a book
    --knitting
    --the newspaper"

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  16. Our stories
    Leaking out of our eyes
    Will remain unnoticed

    That is so striking. Tragedies especially have a way of doing that.

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  17. Estes says that our stories are medicine, meant to heal ourselves and others. I believe that is true, so your final lines pack a particular punch for me.

    Elizabeth

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  18. i think you have vividly described the daily commute on the trains/buses to work/home by us city folks. :)

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  19. Vivid words. A range of images go thru my mind; faces and people on a train (maybe). Everyone with an item that allows them to know about others' stories, except the story of themselves. Thank you.

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  20. Really enjoyed this poem, wonderful metaphors.

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  21. Wonderful. I think about how each of us has a story to tell and our world is so fast-paced...no time to tell or even notice! Awesome poem!

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  22. And they remain unnoticed, because it is safer that way--though we all know that if we seek we will find.

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  23. I especially liked this: "So that
    Our stories
    Leaking out of our eyes
    Will remain unnoticed."

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  24. they remain unnoticed...yes.... such is the busy bee world that absorbs countless tales!

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  25. Evocative and gripping! Powerful scribe, indeed!
    Audrey, I would like to inform you that you have been chosen the Liebster Award for upcoming bloggers. You deserve it! You can read about it in my blog: http://sannellarson.blogspot.se/
    Thank you!

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  26. Now following via GFC from Bloppy Bloggers FB group. Nice to 'meet' you. :)

    Diana @ NannyToMommy
    http://www.nannytomommy.com

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  27. Wonderful, Audrey! Thought provoking and so true! Your poem makes me feel lonely ... or empty, I'm not sure. Isolated none the less. I think it strikes too close to home for me. Another beautiful write.

    Your blog is beautiful, by the way. I must make a point of returning often. Take care, my friend!

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  28. Our stories
    Leaking out of our eyes...what a wonderful closure image..says so much... so many stories told in other ways than with our mouth

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  29. Audrey, you have done again. That last stanza made my hair stand up....yes we don't make eye contact so people will not notice our stories leaking from them. So often we are afraid if we do make eye contact people will see our pain but even worse that we will see the pain of another and have to help. God Forbid. I love your poetry....:)

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  30. Thank you Audrey for reading my post yesterday otherwise I would not have arrived here. To read your words. Words I can read once and know instantly I will read again. Powerful.

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  31. Wow, Audrey! The images of books, stories, and relationships weave so well throughout this poem. Excellent.

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  32. I am a fan of your poetry, such clear and unique images unfold in each poem. Hope to be able to read many more.

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  33. Wow, I love this so much. Definitely spoke to me.

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  34. I'm so glad to connect here.. Your poetry is awesome.. I love this Thanks for the sweet words on mine.

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