Swirling in my mind, rummaging in my ears,
Stilted figures want to have a safe place.
Everywhere, everyone talks of safe places.
Proclamations from me, yes, I will,
I will make this place a safe place.
Seeing through the mass of human hatred,
I know better.
There is not one safe place.
There is no power moving to make my places safe.
All of my places threaten imminent death, and
No one sees that but me and strange, strange friends.
Places crash on me. Every place forces in on me.
Run, run, run down an empty street, but
There will be no safe place where I run to.
There are no physical attacks.
It is psychotic
Death.
Coming at me hard and fast and there is
No refuge.
A lover and pine trees in the mountains.
That is a safe place.
Not safe from storms but safe from psychosis.
There are no pine trees today.
I search for a lover who will bring pine trees.
I search for a lover who can cover me.
Is there a lover who will make me forget
That I am never in a safe place?
stillfugue 
#1 by waystationone on December 21, 2010 - 12:29 pm
is it safety we really seek? and once attained are we content…or just the lovers arms to give us peace where we can again be unsafe in giving our heart away…nice one shot!
#2 by Carl on December 21, 2010 - 2:58 pm
Thank you for your comment!
#3 by Claudia on December 21, 2010 - 12:35 pm
a lover and pine trees in the mountains…love your image of a safe place and think for everyone it’s different..great write..very emotional
#4 by Carl on December 21, 2010 - 3:00 pm
I appreciate your feedback. It is surely different for everyone and some have more safe places than others.
#5 by Eric on December 21, 2010 - 12:43 pm
I hope you find your pine trees.
(Shouldn’t be too hard, with all those Christmas tree lots popping up on the corners this time of year! LOL!)
Nice One Shot!
#6 by Carl on December 21, 2010 - 3:01 pm
Eric, You are right. The tree is easy! The other will be work. Thanks for the comment.
#7 by Desert Rose on December 21, 2010 - 1:05 pm
some questions are left unanswered, but you never know, miracles do happen still i guess..:) nice poem, touched me.
#8 by Carl on December 21, 2010 - 3:01 pm
Thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it.
#9 by dustus on December 21, 2010 - 2:38 pm
Great poem. Most people convince themselves of the illusion of safety, and even more in keeping with the meaning of your poem, they seem to revel in the safety of arms… and not the loving kind of arms, which IMHO is the closest thing to feeling personal security. Enjoyed pondering you poem very much. Cheers.
#10 by Carl on December 21, 2010 - 3:03 pm
Thanks so much for your kind words, Adam. You have helped me contemplate that there are so many ways to find safety, some good some bad. That is why I planned to do a little series on this, this one being the first. There is far too much ground to cover here! Thanks again for commenting.
#11 by deLiderata on December 21, 2010 - 5:32 pm
strong statement. im kind of wondering the same question too.
#12 by Carl on December 22, 2010 - 1:26 am
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it.
#13 by fillingahole on December 21, 2010 - 7:22 pm
I didnt comment after the first read.
safe is elusive and that pains me
this is close to home.
#14 by Carl on December 22, 2010 - 1:16 am
There may not be a lot of people who can identify with this, but I am glad that you can. I’m not glad that it is elusive, but that is what it is for me. I think most people are not so honest about whether they are truly safe. We try to bury the real and imagined dangers. I knew when I went into this, there was so much more to say about safe places, so it received #1.
#15 by Chris G. on December 21, 2010 - 8:24 pm
To find such a love, such a safety…it seems such a simple desire, yet so many struggle toward it. There are many paths, and many false hands extended on the journey, but I do hope we all might find such a home one day. Touching poem – one that stirs reflection and thought.
#16 by Carl on December 22, 2010 - 1:20 am
Thank you so much for your comments. You are right about so many false hands – That adds to my understanding.
#17 by pete marshall on December 22, 2010 - 6:58 am
i too often wonder…i could feel the angst as you struggle to find calm in your life….but is safety in the arms of a lover…or is that just a new can of worms waiting to be opened? A great share…thanks..Pete
#18 by Carl on December 22, 2010 - 8:03 pm
Pete, thank you for taking the time to comment.
#19 by Life: Between the lines on December 26, 2010 - 9:16 am
Carl, this is nice as usual. We all seek a haven in so many different places, things but can only be found where love resides! Thanks
#20 by Carl on December 26, 2010 - 9:30 am
Thank you for your comment! And yes, true love is the only haven!