A Glimpse Beyond...
by Phil Gibson
Copyright Phil Gibson, 2011
Illustrations copyright Caroline Quin, 2011
Phil Gibson Poetry
Phil's Blog: The Garret
Table of Contents
Forward
A Glimmer of Light
No Compost Mennis
Paper Dreams
The Jumper
The Treatment
Beyond the Mask
Also by Phil Gibson
About the Author
Connect with me online
Forward
A Glimpse Beyond... is an introduction to my work and more specifically to my anthology of dark poetry, Beyond the Mask. By its very nature poetry is a subjective medium and as such one person's taste is no guarantee of another's. Therefore this short collection is presented as a representative sample to allow the reader to form their own opinion rather than rely on the views of others.
A Glimmer of Light
My eyes slip out of focus
As my sight is drawn within
Now my concious mind is sinking
As the images begin
My thoughts like liquid lightning
Slip elusive through my mind
Kaleidoscopic visions
Leave me stumbling and blind
Embryonic inspirations
Glitter briefly out of sight
As my mind tries to embrace them
They just fade into the light
In a torment of frustration
At deficiencies of soul
Imperfections of pure reason
Leave me clutching for my goal
I have glimpsed a true illusion
That surpassed my simple thought
I have tried to scratch the surface
But my efforts came to nought
No Compost Mennis
There are toys in my attic
But the marbles have gone
There is no-body up there
But the light is still on
Though the lift is still working
It won’t go to the top
A screw has worked itself loose
And it made the lift stop
There are bats in my belfry
And their chatter has no end
So I climbed off my rocker
Up the pole and round the bend
Now I’m free, out to lunch
All the fairies are there
We’re dining with the Hatter
And the rabid March Hare
Paper Dreams
Two headed horses climb the walls
The panther stalks the bubbled balls
Dead flowers grow across my bed
Ten fingers crossed by hand that bled
Glass tigers gamble in the stream
The unicorn rides through a dream
Blue thunder clouds roll cross the sky
Beneath the watchful wizard`s eye
The bottled gold, unwanted stands
Untouched by mortal human hands
And silent standing all around
Toxic tubes rise from the ground
The light above will soon grow dim
The time will come to sink or swim
The dolphin smiled, the angel cried
Certificates for those who died
In crystal castles on the hill
They’re blind to all the blood they spill
In pidgeon holes, in shadowed rows
Where heroes hide between Death’s toes
And china lemmings on the edge
Stand in line to take the pledge
The infant smiling on the dead
The Devil bearing words unsaid
And on the moon the sleeping clown
Dreams of stars and falling down
Picture formed in empty air
Fades above the empty chair
White coat drifting through the door
Floating two feet from the floor
A fleeting pain beneath the skull
And once again the world grows dull
The face behind the glass looks on
Until this paper dream is gone
The Jumper
I have out-lived my usefulness
Rejected to my loneliness
Discarded here upon the shelf
My only company, myself
It is a dreadful truth to see
To know that no-body wants me
Of this sad fact there is no doubt
Who’d want me now, I’m too worn out
Before me now my life is played
As I sit here with edges frayed
Each fibre of my being stretched
My misery in creases etched
Unravelling, I wonder why
It came to this, I start to cry
I long for peace in endless sleep
With eyes closed, off the cliff I leap
The Treatment
Alone I sit within my room
So small and painted white
Walls padded like my mother’s womb
And lit by blinding light
Some-one behind, I don’t know whom
Then draws my jacket tight
Into my view strange faces loom
And tell me it’s alright
A needle’s jab brings torpid doom
It does not help to fight
They lock me in my sterile tomb
You think this soothes my plight?
Beyond the Mask
This collection offers a peek beyond the mask of the author. The glimpse is brief and partial; sometimes sad, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical but always candid. Look into my eye, it’s time to see what hides down that rabbit hole...
Reviews
A few reviews from Fanstory.com, a review website where writers gather to critique each other’s work (listed by fanstory.com username):
Cjvaugn – 5 stars
You caught me from the first line to the last. Compelling and riveting emotion, I liked how you draw us in and take us on the experience...
Take care, CJ
mamonia – 5 stars
Wow! This is some kind of powerful. You really got a rise out of me with the description and imagery of words. Fantastic poetry showing the depth of your feelings and creating a major impact on the reader.
Great
Snowbound – 5 stars
WOW
Dark, demented, delicious. I love the imagery. You take us right into the straight jacket...
SnowBound
Table of contents
A Glimmer of Light
Another Lonely Day
Brainstorm
Circular Road
Emerald Flame
Ever Moor
How Do You Know..?
Inspiration
Labyrinth
Lamented Youth
No Compost Mennis
Paper Dreams
Pressure Valve
Prisoner
Puzzle of Tears
Rabbits!
Rollercoaster
Runaway Train
Running Scared
Something Missing
The Jumper
The Mirror
The Return of the Rabbit
The Treatment
The Voice
Visions
Waiting
White Rabbit, Black Heart
Who am I?
Who's Mad?
Also by Phil Gibson
A collection of Dark Poetry exploring the shadowy side of human nature. If you have ever looked at the world around you and thought there was some-thing terribly wrong then you may connect with these poems. Written by one who is still an optimist despite knowing some-th
ing awful is going to happen!
Reviews
5 stars, Inspiring, 22 May 2011
By Miss E Formby
I am not one who normally enjoys mainstream poetry, but I absolutely love these poems. The way the author uses plays on words and descriptions allowed me to really imagine the concepts portrayed in the book. I really would take a chance on these poems I don't think you will be disappointed! My favourite poem of the set has to be 'Parasite' which I find haunting, thought provoking and thoroughly enjoyable all in equal measure.
Reviews from Fanstory.com (a poetry review site), listed by Fanstory username:
Donandvicki- 5 stars
This would do well in the book of Revelations, Dark, ominous and bone cold chilling. Don
Dustychange- 5 stars
Woah. What a beautiful vision~! Well, it's talking about something morbid and apocalyptic, but the way it's being expressed is beautiful.The cool thing about this work seems to be that it's sensually appealing. Besides that, the language used is also direct and thoughtful.Excellent work.
Magic Wand- 5 stars
Your writing is very dark and sometimes disturbing. But mostly, it is honest. Not what we always see today. You have a natural talent to tell it like it is, no matter what.
Poetic Friend- 5 stars
Wow, this is haunting. Definitley makes the reader want to continue reading the others. I will take a peep at your book synopsis after reviewing. I like your writing style.
Xylok- 5 stars
dude, killer poem with killer imagery and a killer ending; that's like a triple homicide via quill. the whole things full of vivid description and the internal word play and rhymes sound awesome when orated. nuclear scythe rocks. glimpsing a truth you cannot abide, intense! profound. this poem is awesome.
Morbidity
I have a dream, a fantasy
Where all men live in harmony
An end to pain and enmity
A new birth for humanity
Each day I wake reluctantly
And come back to reality
I look around in misery
And see the true insanity
A world ruled by brutality
Supported by complacency
We’re in the grip of tyranny
Choked by our own misanthropy
The masses in obscurity
Condemned to live in poverty
A life of harsh severity
The cruellest immorality
Each day a new atrocity
Will reach new depths of cruelty
We’re sinking into savagery
A slow death for humanity
About the author
Born and raised in Devon, Phil has been an avid reader from a young age, developing an early taste for the writing of Edgar Alan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Stephen King, John Wyndham and Tolkien. Began to dream of becoming a writer and first attempted to write a book at the age of 10.
After a 'satisfactory' but uneventful school career left him with no clear sense of direction Phil retreated into self-imposed exile at the southern tip of Cornwall where he spent a number of years living in the attic of an isolated bungalow. It was here that he first began to write poetry, inspired by political upheavals and environmental concerns.
A few years later Phil attempted to re-enter mainstream society, moving back to the city and starting a family. A decade later, after raising 2 awesome kids as a single father, he returned to education, studying Earth Sciences at Plymouth University.
Connect with me online
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/PhilG_Poetry
Facebook author page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phil-Gibson-Poetry
Facebook book pages:
Apocalyptic Visions - https://www.facebook.com/ApocalypticVisions
Beyond the Mask - https://www.facebook.com/Beyond.the.Mask
Phil Gibson Poetry:
https://philgibsonpoetry.co.uk/
Phil’s blog:
https://philgibsonpoetrythegarret.blogspot.com/