Beneath the Surface

Summary

The poem "Beneath the Surface" by David Rudder reflects on the hidden turmoil and beauty beneath the deceptive calm of a lake's surface, paralleling the depths of human emotion and the process of confronting and releasing inner demons.

Abstract

"Beneath the Surface" is a contemplative poem that uses the metaphor of a lake's serene exterior hiding tumultuous undercurrents to explore the complexities of the human psyche. The author describes the lake's surface as a mirror reflecting distorted images and memories, symbolizing the facade people present to the world. The poem delves into the pain of suppressed feelings, the haunting nature of past traumas, and the struggle to keep these dark thoughts at bay. However, it also conveys a sense of hope and healing as the narrator learns to appreciate the present, finding solace in nature and the beauty of the world around them. The act of calling out a name and envisioning a loved one emerging from the depths suggests a yearning for connection and the transformative power of love and imagination in overcoming personal trials.

Opinions

The author perceives the lake as a metaphor for the human mind, with its calm exterior belying the chaos beneath.
There is an opinion that unspoken emotions are too painful to express but also too significant to forget, lingering in the subconscious like dormant nightmares.
The poem suggests that daylight can diminish the vividness of these dark thoughts, but it cannot erase them entirely.
The act of looking at the world through "rose-colored glasses" implies a deliberate choice to focus on positivity and beauty despite past struggles.
The author values the therapeutic effects of nature, using it as a means to calm the mind and alleviate distressing memories.
The poem reflects a belief in the healing power of love and connection, as evidenced by the calling out of a loved one's name and the imagery of their emergence from the water in a splendid display.

Concealed in the dusky deep.

The waters in the lake appeared tranquil calm safe and secure Though beneath the surface easily unseen and lying there obscure Lie undertows and currents snags dangers and hidden reefs That can pull me into darkness perils and concealed griefs.

The steely skin of the surface reflects images in smudged chrome Some are blurred some hidden and others are unknown Mirrors of what’s seen and distant smoky memories Are twisted in the branches of tall and ghostly trees.

Those feelings unexpressed lay beneath the mirrored glass Too torturous to be told and too indelible to pass They’re more likely to remain concealed in the dusky deep And pass across the mind like birds when lying fast asleep.

The nightmares like wild horse’s stampede across my mind Imprinted in lurid color a picture still there not left behind In the glare of daylight the images dull and dissipate But not erased by the memory where they still participate.

I now look at the world through new rose-colored glasses I’ve laid a picnic on a blanket in amongst the lush green grasses That grows around the edges of the lake between the hills Below the broken valley cut and fed by twisting rills.

And when the mind starts wandering, I look into the skies And listen to the music of the leaves and breeze that softly sighs And cools the sweat upon my brow and erases memories That are picked up by the passing wind and blown through the trees.

Then in the cool of evening when the whole world turns quiet I’ll gaze into star-studded skies and moonlight white and bright And watch my thoughts sailing upside down underneath the lake The troubled thoughts lost in the mind alert and still awake.

That’s when I call your name and cup my ear to hear the answer Pirouetting past my soul and mind a ballerina and a dancer Then from beneath the steely waters you suddenly appear In rainbows of golden splash you emerge then disappear.

David Rudder 14th January 2020

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