Applause | Poesy plus Polemics

Applause

Posted by Paul F. Lenzi on September 30, 2016

Posted in: Blank Verse, POETRY. Tagged: Acting, Addiction, Death, Drugs, Grief, Movies, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Self-Loathing, Talent. 48 Comments

philip-seymour-hoffman-003

Photo from ‘The Guardian’

(Originally posted February 2014)

(For Philip Seymour Hoffman 1967-2014)

what agony pierces the veins
with such pleasure that art
must be murdered by muscle
and malice self-loathing the
criminal mastermind inside
the psycho-biology tortured
by exquisite talent and pain
breaks the hearts that erupt
in applause moved and lifted
aloft by a consummate body
of work time and over again
left to grieve and consider why
some gifts are so ill-endowed
with inherently punishing
conflict of blessing and curse

48 comments on “Applause”

bitzy-ku on February 4, 2014 at 7:20 pm said:

Tragic and true. Great work Paul.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:15 am said:
  
  thank you most kindly
  
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carriepage on February 4, 2014 at 7:21 pm said:

So eloquent, yet so tragic. This gave me goosebumps.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:15 am said:
  
  deeply appreciated
  
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Tonia on February 4, 2014 at 7:41 pm said:

beautifully composed…of a sad loss.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:14 am said:
  
  thank you most kindly
  
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Journey In Rhyme on February 4, 2014 at 7:44 pm said:

Well put. I wrote one for him today too. Very sad.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:14 am said:
  
  thank you kindly
  
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Mirada on February 4, 2014 at 8:27 pm said:

Great work of tribute, Paul. I found myself too impacted by his death to write of it. It was interesting to me that the day before, we lost Maximilian Schell–another fine actor (“Judgement at Nuremberg”), age 83–and nothing about his death to interest the tabloids.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:12 am said:
  
  I completely missed news of Schell – how sad – I guess Hoffman’s drugs and relative youth were the more sensational
  
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  - Mirada on February 5, 2014 at 5:13 pm said:
    
    Yes–as though Schell’s family running from the Nazis was less life-impacting than Hoffman’s issues. But you’ve often written of it–history is easily forgotten, particularly the ignoble bits.
    
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Nancy Rahman on February 4, 2014 at 8:29 pm said:

Sad.. thanks for the write up. Here’s mine:http://thechicagochic.com/philip-seymour-hoffman-1967-2014/

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:10 am said:
  
  you’re welcome – I found your piece quite cogent
  
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Peter Notehelfer on February 4, 2014 at 8:39 pm said:

It is a mystery to me why so many highly gifted, creative people often carry a self-destructive instinct within their psyche . . . Breaks my heart! Again . . . Thank you for putting words to the pain . . .
Blessings . . .

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 9:03 am said:
  
  a mystery indeed
  
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eileen049 on February 5, 2014 at 1:28 am said:

The first line moved me -what agony pierces the veins – puts the tragedy of the situation so well. So sad.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 5, 2014 at 8:54 am said:
  
  much appreciated
  
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Shimky on February 5, 2014 at 9:56 am said:

Powerful words, Paul. The loss is devastating.

Thanks for sharing.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 6, 2014 at 11:11 am said:
  
  much appreciated
  
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oldmainer on February 5, 2014 at 4:55 pm said:

A fitting eulogy Paul. Well said.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 6, 2014 at 10:57 am said:
  
  thanks kindly, maine
  
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stockdalewolfe on February 5, 2014 at 6:46 pm said:

This is a great tribute, Paul. It is so tragic and a huge loss. But in some way it is not a mystery to me.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 6, 2014 at 10:47 am said:
  
  I guess we all can relate to internal suffering
  
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Malctg - The Foureyed Poet. on February 8, 2014 at 8:33 pm said:

Hi Paul. Powerful! Thank you for liking ‘Ale House!’ Take Care. The Foureyed Poet.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 9, 2014 at 8:26 am said:
  
  thank you kindly, malc
  
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one more night on February 9, 2014 at 12:55 pm said:

amazingly well written, descriptive and heartfelt 🙂

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 10, 2014 at 10:48 am said:
  
  thank you sincerely
  
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erobles1963 on February 11, 2014 at 8:19 pm said:

Paul, wow…this really hit me hard! Greatly penned and I thank you for this experience… ~ Phillip

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 12, 2014 at 11:05 am said:
  
  I deeply appreciate that
  
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jovisgoes on February 24, 2014 at 10:03 pm said:

Excellent as always. You have a way Paul, of hitting nails on their heads.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on February 25, 2014 at 1:31 pm said:
  
  much appreciated
  
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reginadee2014 on March 4, 2014 at 1:27 pm said:

Reblogged this on Regina Puckett.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on March 5, 2014 at 11:33 am said:
  
  thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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Paul F. Lenzi on October 1, 2014 at 10:02 am said:

Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.

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SHIRLEY MAYA TAN on October 1, 2014 at 10:19 am said:

Paul, I seriously think it is about time you publish your poetry. I’d would really buy your book when you do! I don’t know how you do it. Some of your verses just rips my heart. In a good way 🙂

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 2, 2014 at 9:32 am said:
  
  deeply appreciate that, Shirley – actually, I’m about to release my 9th book – see the “Books” tab near top of my blog page for info on the other 8
  
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  - SHIRLEY MAYA TAN on October 2, 2014 at 9:40 am said:
    
    WOW! Congrats and bravo! I will definitely check them out. THANK YOU, Paul 🙂
    
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namelessneed on October 1, 2014 at 12:04 pm said:

I remember being moved 1st round/thanx again/ also, yr support of the blog arts is appreciated

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 2, 2014 at 9:31 am said:
  
  always my pleasure
  
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mikesteeden on October 1, 2014 at 1:15 pm said:

I see much has been said by way of fine comments to this poem already so I will revert to a simple observation – when reading this this time around the voice within was English upon a Shakespearean stage. Superb poem.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 2, 2014 at 9:27 am said:
  
  that means more to me than I can say
  
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Ron DuBour on October 1, 2014 at 1:48 pm said:

Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 2, 2014 at 9:20 am said:
  
  thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
  
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  - Ron DuBour on October 2, 2014 at 3:18 pm said:
    
    moat welcome!!!
    
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pennylanethoughts on October 1, 2014 at 4:52 pm said:

So sad. Beautiful Paul.

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 2, 2014 at 9:15 am said:
  
  thanks dearly, penny
  
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roseelaineblog on September 30, 2016 at 9:46 am said:

How do you get so many words in a post 🙂 so clever

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- Paul F. Lenzi on October 1, 2016 at 3:44 am said:
  
  thanks kindly
  
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