“Return of the Flame” by Rene Magritte
What fame is there
In tawdry scenes
Reality not drama
Famous figures
Behaving badly
Naked of inhibition
In the public eye
Fallow morality
Captured crudely
By the public lens
What shame is there
When character
Of lazy virtue
Shows transparent
No makeup masks
No costume cloaks
Conceal the truth
Iconic clay
Too limp to stand
Folds in on itself
What blame is there
For undeserved
Celebrity
Which part is ours
In sordid plays
Enjoying fools
Felled by folly
Miscast lives
Deluded by
Self-importance
Or is the headline
All that matters
(originally posted December 2013)
Poesy plus Polemics 
great poem!
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thanks for the compliment
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Powerfully said!
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appreciate that
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Headlines are the only thing that matter (or how I’ve come to know them: ‘click bait’). “Information” as entertainment and “entertainment” as “information.”
And I always love the usage of “fallow!” Great read as I wind down. 🙂
AB
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deeply appreciate your comments
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What an appropriate painting. To me that is indicative of the caste of celebrity today.
Johnty
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me too
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Fine poem coupled with painting certainly sets the scene of the miscast celebrity. There used to be a showbiz saying, “It doesn’t matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right.”
Maybe it still stands.
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it certainly seems that way
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I don’t buy into the headlines much, they can make me Way Cranky.
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I should avoid them, too
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Love this 🙂
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thank you kindly
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Reblogged this on Dark Arbor and commented:
Reminds me of a scene from Interview with a Vampire.
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thanks for sharing my poem with your readers
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You’re welcome.
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Reblogged this on Poesy plus Polemics.
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Reblogged this on ann johnson-murphree and commented:
A tribute to Paul F. Lenzi who brings sight, sound and feelings to his work giving his fans and followers inspiration when they find themselves wrapped in his words.
Visit Poesy Plus Polemics at:
http://poesypluspolemics.com/2013/12/16/stardom/
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers – and for your deeply moving and generous words
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Pingback: Stardom | ann johnson-murphree
I fear it is not just the celebrity; in our time it is Jedermann . . .
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you may be right – it seems that “everyman” is chasing his “15 minutes of fame” instead of pursuing a valuable productive life
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Reblogged this on OUR POETRY CORNER.
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thank you for sharing my poem with your readers
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Wonderful poem – reminds me of one of my characters from a skit!
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cheers
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Unfortunately you are right about the shallowness of our current society and as usual you said it brilliantly!
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I fear we’ve begun to take on the decadence of Rome
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I do also!
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The whole celebrity deal is such a messy reflection of humanity, too often cringe-worthy. I wouldn’t want to be a celebrity–except among my close friends here; that’s well-sufficient.
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no hankering for your “15 minutes of fame”? – me neither
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Nah, I think I had it locally, and it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
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A tragic truth put beautifully.
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thanks kindly
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So many people don’t deserve the fame and influence they have. I like how you powerfully project it in your poem.
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I appreciate that most sincerely
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I remember this one–still cringe-worthy, the phenomena of frail fame.
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it seems all around us
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I guess the only purpose it served for me, is that I would shun any offers now–and I understand better why some “stars” fiercely guard their privacy.
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How very true. Wonderfully captured Paul.
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many thanks, peter
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