Trapped and Other Poems

By Lefcothea-Maria Golgaki

Trapped

A faint mist hovered in the air
that had a distinct feel of its own.
She gathered her hair delicately into a round coil
then leaned back in the reclining chair.

Polaroid photos sprawled in every direction
portrayed the essence of sheer bliss,
yet the futility she was trapped inside
conveyed her mind’s spurious impressions.

The unresolved conflict between factual and optimal
had exposed the paradox of emptiness
caught as she was between accomplishment and lethargy
distortions of her role were commonplace and posed a formidable obstacle.

Not ever had she failed to recognize  
all was nothing, lost in the mist of time.
What could actually erase this strength of feeling?
As the molten rock of aimlessness solidified.

Pinned down to a treacherous existence,
she felt disconnected from what was real.
The mist was followed by lashing rain.
Closing her eyes, she took the path of least resistance.

Ridiculed

I was ridiculed by a peddling hope
-it was more than a wish-
which penetrated my already damaged tissues.
Working silently,
passionate in its defence of you,
it produced faithful copies inside my flawed mind
that quickly overwhelmed my defences. 
An interloper, a parasite of my stark choice
and the odd assortment of your leftovers.
Why did I allow it to delve into
the darkest sides of an irrationality
existing within my mental construct?
Tormenting in itself,
it will embrace the vast wonderland
of an idolised image
that violently reneges on any undertaking
made as to be shed and leave me.

The Acrobat

Here I am, on a flying trapeze
hung from my knees
float like a cloud
flip and twist.

I swing and focus to each technique
barefoot, an amateur artist
a hundred meters above the ground
proof I exist.

I know my demise will come
if I ease into comfort.
Afraid not to fall
for the timorous hearts the net is the trap.

The bleachers are full
the jostling crowd roars
all together in rhythm clap their hands
a feat of bravery on view.

Inactiveness, this vampire bat,
squeals and hovers around.
When the lights are out,
it will feed on my blood.

Paragon

With no evidence to the contrary
you, the nonesuch of perfection
unequalled is your poise, at the acme of your youth,
I kneel before your majesty.

Comparable to an unflawed diamond
you, my forever love
like a gold-dipped rose
that lasts forever

Your tales of fantasy vanquish my naïve realism
another dimension.
Your notion of truth, plain, poetic
revealed in your grin.

A vortex of emotions in the sphere of altruism
interrogating, piercing eyes -simply, exude love-
alight they are with confusion to the maladies of this world
I would die for you – 

Downward Spiral

Mired in the glutinous mud,
they weep silent tears
when the putrid smell of forlornness is near
and the birds fly out in unison.

A forlorn hope, 
once more,
inhabits the black hole 
of feebleness.

And while they wait for the melody to start,
they cringe
as if the sound of an old violin 
is hitting the wrong notes.

Thus, days and nights
shrivel up,
left in the scorching sun
to wither and fade.

Silent

A cry for help that went unnoticed,
silent was your middle name.
Well…yet, you screamed
as if persecuted by returning echoes.

The choice I made to shut my ears 
to the husky whispers.
What hurts me more – I pretended not to hear
That day I saw you

What if…I cared still?

The Tree

When the plates of earth collided,
a valley was formed.
In the middle of it a rugged hill lies,
by no man ever crossed.

Covered in maggots outside and in,
an apple hangs from a stunted tree.
Attached from its stalk,
loaded with stigma, spotted with smirch.

Rendered anathema, a miasma of heinousness 
among the golden apples forbidden to be
in the mellow light of sunset,
disallowed to be bathed in.

Until it falls and it rolls
and enters the Garden,
flimsy the borders, it rests on the ground
-Daughters of the evening, you left it unguarded.-

The soil turns black,
the last dewdrop disappears
to drain the energy of them all,
its final frontier. 

Now a shady tree stands,
bearing ignominious fruits
its dastardly soul
extends and multiplies its roots.

Soon, it takes over most of the bloom
its ugliness debases the grace,
rotting leaves cling to prickly branches,
the air is pervaded by a stench of decay.

Oppressed by something darker, 
the land will always be.
Intertwined though good and evil are,
subordination of one over the other persists.

The Mermaid

Two ships navigated the east
unfurled their sails, filled by the wind
in the course of the night
to anchor no need.

On the rock face she stood
-white capped waves hugged the shore-
wondering if she could…
a further escape to pursue.

Liberty and Autonomy the ships’ names were
their bows and sterns with fire burst
the glow from it warm
and blazes spread fierce like a storm.

The captains appointed resembled mighty beasts
epic their voyage, undertaken by order of no king.
Never did the logbook detail destination to a port
the vessels’ crews immortal souls.

By joining them, she would travel evermore
in a quest to set off
to find peace a thousand times she wished.
Before dawn, she was lost in the sea…

Lefcothea-Maria Golgaki was born in 1977 and lives in Athens, Greece. Her first poetry collection was published by Adelaide Literary Magazine in 2019. Part of that collection also appeared in Mediterranean Poetry, Aphelion webzine and Eskimo Pie. One of her poems also appeared in Adelaide Literary Award Anthology. Her stories have appeared in magazines like Bright Flash Review and Twin&Twain and Flash Fiction North. In April 2022 Scars Publications released a collection book under the name “The Ice that was” in which her poems were also included. In November 2022 Scars Publication published more of her poems in a collection book named “Τhe 2023 poetry review date book”. Finally, her article ‘Life of uncertainty’ has been published by The Sentinel and Tri-town Tribune. In Greece, she is a published writer of children’s books and many of her articles appear in magazines and newspapers.