Image: Richard Keeling
The weeks prompt is based on our reading and interpretation of T.S. Eliot’s The Hollow Men.
It began as a joke
A few idle words
Spread across a page
Intended to excite
Irritate and incite.
Expressions of life
Trivialised behind a nursery rhyme
Repeated as any popular ditty might do
In questioning
Inquiring
Philosophising
The futility of
Inner and outer meanings.
Substance was the query
What is whole?
What is hollow?
We without tangibility
Destined to roam
Wander
Meander through
Waste lands
Left ragged
Desolate
Skeletal.
Instead we gleefully
Over turn reality
For fantasy
Dream
Speculation.
The true meaning
Clouded as it is
Left to each ones
Miserable determination.
Round and round it goes
Where it ends
No body knows.
So say a prayer
Offered on high
For in the end
Who knows
If it snows or blows?
As long as the bang
Is louder than the whimper.
Written for: http://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2014/09/28/prompt-74-the-hollow-men-t-s-elliot/
Morpethroad 
Fabulous, a wonderful answer to the original! 🙂
Thanks Helen it is a favourite poem of mine from way back in school days.
I really love what you have done here Michael outstanding!
Thank you Yves, excellent prompt to write to.
I like the universality of your take, Michael! It could be a definition of writing or other kinds of expression.
Hi Gabriella, thanks so much for dropping by, I have always liked this poem and here was a chance to play a little with it.
Nicely done Michael. I’m sure T.S would approve.
You think so? That’s a great comment and so encouraging, thank you Jackie.
Ouch — having turned the original ending on its head – and the comparison makes both poems stronger. I like how you picked up on the “for thine is the kingdom” and used a carnival call in your response. Very well done.
Ah thank you Jen, it was an excellent prompt to play with. I studied this poem many years ago and it has always fascinated me.
I studied him in high school but was really too young to appreciate him at the time. Looking back, his poems are so much richer.
Really like what you did with the prompt. Very thoughtful.
Absolutely wonderful and a treasure to read as it flows so well.
So say a prayer/ Offered on high/ For in the end/ Who knows/ If it snows or blows?/ As long as the bang/ Is louder than the whimper.
Such an impact! Great job Michael 🙂
Hi Pat, I as wondering if you were ok. Thanks so much for dropping by, your comments are always encouraging.
Hi Michael – sometimes life just spins way too fast – so I needed to break away and try to stay somewhat sane. 🙂
It has worked – more or less 😉
I’m glad to be back – have missed everyone!
Good to see you back. There’s a lot to be said for sanity, I must try it sometime, maybe…..enjoy your evening.
This is a great read .. the lines are staccatos of meaning .. the occasion questions leading evr deeper into thought and enjoyed how your last line took us back to Eliot and yet not quite with you own:
As long as the bang
Is louder than the whimper.
Absolutely enchanting.