Missing Burglers

[deansson]

I found this poem in a stack papers and it surprised me. I have no memory of writing it, but I liked how it was turning out, so here it is, a bit revamped.

Missing Burglers

Sudden confusion everywhere. Why do people stop
And tilt their heads and with worried faces?
(How cheated they look! How deprived!)

The streets and squares were emptying rapidly
A half minute ago. So why is that woman wobbling?
Why does that man look like an actor who forgot his blocking?

Because night has fallen and the burglers haven’t come.
And puzzled police and other addled authorities say
On the ten o'clock news, "There are no more burglers,

We're proud to say" (and their faces are not proud
At all) "that we caught them all and dispatched them
To one of Dante's clammy circles."

Now what’s going to happen to us without burglers?
Those people were a kind of solution.
Now nobody knows what to do with the things

They like to lock in an airless chambers or back atrium.

[ladymaybebaby]

Wow, I sure as hell glad you found this one! An amazing piece of work! I love this concept, the images are concrete even thought this is such an abstact piece, my mind still went straight for this spooky kind of world. I love the diction and your references are spot on. The Dante reference of 'clammy circle' is just genious, the news casters again, perfect and the emptiness in the end... even though it should be a good thing is again just down right spooky! So well done, I'm sorry I got to this one so late! A gem and thank you for sharing it with us!

-LMB
xoxo

[Chelle]

It's actually sort of funny, trying to find a purpose to a career that's utterly criminal. I found myself thinking if there were no thieves, people could just sell or give those items away and maybe there wouldn't be moldering piles of things about but such is the nature of people. a little bit of nonsense here. i like the irony

[jeremyf]

What a pleasant find to revisit. I like it either as a tongue and cheek literal translation or as a deeper metaphor for the obnoxiousness of over-indulgent capitalism. Very cool concept well executed, I really dig this one.

[deansson]

Lady, Chelle, and Jeremy, glad y'all liked it.

[miharu]

Like Jeremy, I found this to be a sort of commentary on capitalism at its "finest." I liked the emotion in the proud statement made from faces lacking any real joy in the accomplishment. Such an interesting sentiment. I must admit to pondering the last line, though, and not fully understanding it... Perhaps a negative reaction to the loss of thieves?

- m

[deansson]

Like Jeremy, I found this to be a sort of commentary on capitalism at its "finest." I liked the emotion in the proud statement made from faces lacking any real joy in the accomplishment. Such an interesting sentiment. I must admit to pondering the last line, though, and not fully understanding it... Perhaps a negative reaction to the loss of thieves?

- m

Miharu: Yes, I hope so. The point of the poem was that we all have "those people" in our cities/lives/cultures that we love to hate, but without them our lives lose some meaning, especially when we don't feel threatened enough to get all righteously indignant about stuff.

[ladymaybebaby]

When I commented on this one on the boards, I knew it would show up in the spotlight soon! I love this piece! Congratulations on the spotlight pick and it is truly deserved!

-LMB
xoxo

[platinummoon]

Even burglers have their place in the pattern of life. I love the polarity thesis.
But Dante woulden't thank you. He has enough fuel for his Inferno!

[deansson]

LBM: Thanks for the consideration! I'm honored.

[flux]

This poem takes the reader by surprise, it takes a look at the world from an unexpected angle and leaves us wondering. Inspired and fun.

[everhopeful]

I can't help but find this amusing, it's a really imaginative and original concept for a poem, which makes me smile to start with. Then when I consider how accurate it probably is, and how perplexed everyone would be by this actually happening, it makes me smile again, partially in despair over how many people would be aghast at losing their excuse to keep things under lock and key!
A bit out of leftfield for this poem, but that's what makes it so likeable.
Congratulations on the spotlight!

[Josie]

Congratulations on the Spotlight honors. All kidding aside, I think I would still be locking up certain items to keep children's exploring hands out of reach for safety reasons. Burglars or robbers, mmm? That was an interesting subject for a poem.

[musie]

deansson~You have MAD writing skill's my friend and this piece prove's it....ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! What an ingenious piece of work....This is our World, we are all of us holding on to nothing but THING'S for Criminal's to steal....Such an interesting piece for the reader to dig their teeth in to....It's understandable why this made the spotlight...CONGRATULATIONS! Musie

[deansson]

Thanks to all of y'all for the laudatory remarks. I've been going through a rough patch lately -- nothing terrible, just major changes -- and haven't been writing at all. But y'all have inspired me to get back to a daily schedule. Thanks again. Y'all rock.

[dornicks]

Like many others, I found the amusing side to this one,but then began wondering how I would pass the time spending my evenings indoors.
You chose a good theme and did it well. Congratulations to you,

dornicks

[Sasha]

Well even burglars have a decent reason of existence, right? heh.
That was really a cool piece, and unique as well; it has a new perspective that was intriguingly presented here. I think there will be always something to complain about.
Well done, and Congratulations of the Spotlight!

Sash

[knpoet]

Congratulations on the spotlight for this very innovative piece of writing, deansson. People do tend to use existing factors as crutches in order to avoid having to deal with issues, and apparently for some people, having the burglers in as a bit like having the cleaners in - they both help to clear out all the rubbish so that folks can go on a spending spree and replace all the old looted stuff with great new stuff! Strange things, folks, aren't we?

Kathy

[tangerinepie]

I have to say that this is so fanciful and what wonderful bits of satire.I just liked the whole idea of going out of the box, and creating this fantastic spotlight piece..I am still smiling..Tangie..