Neruda’s love sonnets are some of the best poetry ever written (IMHO). And yes, exactly, love and nature are inseparable, flowing in and around each other. Thank you, RomaJ for your lovely and muchly appreciated comment and visit. You are always welcome to walk through my poetry.

Hi Fia, so happy you felt the passion. Thank you!

I love that word (flayed). It felt and sounded right to use it in this poem. Thanks for your observation and for the fine comment.

One of the things I love about Neruda’s poetry is his use of everyday words. With them, he word paints images, metaphors and a feeling of LIFE that exists and surrounds us with HOPE.

Light, thank you so much for your insight and understanding of what I wanted (no, needed) to express. If Neruda were still alive, I think I would be tempted to send this poem to him.

Hi Adelphina, thanks for your visit. I wrote this during a time when my poems had more of an ‘edge’ to them. I wanted my poetry to be part of and reflect a culture of resistance, that was not agitprop but still drove straight to the heart of the reader. To tell the truth about the world but not preach at people. This poem began that journey. I liked this poem and so workshopped it with a writers group at the University of Iowa, and then I submitted it to some literary magazines, but none of them printed it. Oh well.

Adelphina, thank you for your comment; it is truly appreciated.

Thank you James (Knight). I appreciate your comment muchly.

For someone who suffers from depression, silent screams implode, leaving only a muted hollow, faraway look. Alive, but dead inside. This poem represents some of the things people have told me about their struggles with depression. And Adelphina, you are right, silence is “actively trying to sabotage you”. Thanks for your insightful comment.

Thanks Tim for your kind words.

And sometimes there is a silence that is so strong that even your screams remain silent, internalized and damaging. I have had many a discussion with friends who suffer from depression. This poem came out of those discussions. They want to talk, to express what is on their minds, what they are feeling, but cannot. That “weight” is unbearable. Thank you Willow for your visit and kind words. Both are muchly appreciated.

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Tim. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Love the classic stuff myself. After Kath passed away, Cetera took control. His vision was more pop, and less horns. Like I said the band lost it’s soul without, Terry. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Roma. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Terry Kath, was the heart of the band for sure. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Fia. So glad you connected with the write my friend. It’s something we all need in my opinion. Appreciate you, cuz.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Adel. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I love that line as well, gotta love the classics. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Neville. So glad you connected with the write my friend. He was one of a kind for sure. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Willow. So glad you connected with the write my friend. They had some decent songs in the 80’s. But Peter Cetera took control of the group once Terry died. He envisioned a more poppy sound with less horns. It just never had the soul of the classic 70’s sound. Terry Kath was their heart, and they were never the same without him. Just my opinion. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Benjamin. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I agree. Cetera’s vision of the band was a huge departure from Kath’s. The 70’s stuff had balls, it had heart and soul. Killer live band, Kath’s blazing solo on 25 or 6 to 4 comes to mind. You know your music. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Mark. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Well thank you, that means a lot to me my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Ghosteen. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I love all kinds of music. I started out a metal head, but I’ve evolved over time. lol. Good song. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Keith. So glad you connected with the write my friend. The first album was killer, Kath, was an amazing guitarist. Hendrix himself, told one of the horn players in the band, that Kath was better than him. According to legend that is. lol. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Nick. So glad you connected with the write my friend. No we don’t it’s a shame. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, John. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Love them too, Terry Kath, was their heart and soul. Chicago after his death was a more pop/rock. Thank you for the excellent commentary. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Kelly. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I’ve heard that Hendrix said that as well. So cool you got to see them live, that had to be an amazing show. Elite musicianship throughout that group. The man on the sly trombone, Mr. Pankow. Danny Seraphine was a beast on the drums. But, Terry was the man. He made the guitar talk and sing. He had a hell of a voice himself, very soulful. Thank you for the lovely commentary. Appreciate you.

Damian