In Reality, There’s No Buried Treasure

29 Comments on “In Reality, There’s No Buried Treasure”

1. how do you know the words weren’t for you
   how do you know they weren’t terrified with what they were writing, what they were feeling?
   it’s not a fool who falls in love
   how do you know they didn’t see your messages but were still too afraid? self conscious, timid ..
   maybe you’d be surprised?
   why should you take the first step
   but why should they?
   why should you declare unambiguously?
   but why should they?
   how do you know it wasn’t the other way around? and why should it be a mirror image, why not mutual?
   such a tenuous dance, so vicious and so confusing …
   when you work it out, let the rest of us know please 🙂
   because you’ve described most of my relationships
   and so many that people have shared with me …
   this was very thought provoking .. more than you might know …

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   • I… uhhh… I. Yeah. I don’t have any answers Mr. Rider. I don’t. I may be making assumptions but I don’t think they are far off-base.

     But I do feel like a fool. Like, 82% of the time. Also, not everything here is totally my reality, to be honest. I was thinking about another person’s point of view and tried to think about it like that. Some of it deeply deeply relate with though. Like you said… it’s one example of many, many relationships.

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     • i don’t think you are far off-base – but it seems almost like it can be an unseen, unacknowledged and unspoken stand-off where nobody knows that is happening … like two souls can walk apart with strong feelings never knowing that the other felt the same. 82%? hehehe … i gave up feeling foolish long ago, but to be cliched its a journey not a destination – i struggle really hard to be just me and authentic no matter how foolish that seems to others, maybe a source of their laughter is my purpose on this rock, but often it seems letting emotion and feeling run free is rewarded from lovers, friends and even strangers … or maybe i’m a bigger fool than i know, which is quite possible!

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       • Twenty-five years ago that happened to me… walked away from a friend who I had feelings for but didn’t know he felt the same. Then a few years back I saw him again and since I had nothing to lose, I told him and found out he felt the same way. Nowadays though I just tell people I like them when I do. It’s easier that way.

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       • indeed. and what do we have to lose? a tiny bit of minor embarrassment maybe? an early sense of rejection rather than long term investment in something that isn’t is a small price to pay …

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       • Right. I think sometimes we forget to really weigh these differences out in order to make better decisions.

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2. We fall in love with the art or the illusion of the artist. It’s so easy. It’s also promising that we fall in love with more than one art or one artist. I feel that’s the real bonus.

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   • For me, I believe in multiple forms/types of love. There’s lust and there’s “true” love, there’s love that comes from a long period of time and there’s family love. There’s short and there’s long-term. All love is good and perfect. But it has many faces.

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     • I see where you are coming from. Ageed!

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3. So true – it’s incredibly easy to fall in love with a soul-stirring story or poem & convince ourselves that the writer meant it as a personal tribute. Love’s a fickle and mysterious beast, and it can be so easy to clothe our fantasies through another’s words. Very relatable!

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   • Yes! The real this is how talented some people are with creating those magical spaces. They say reading is a love affair… and I have to agree.

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4. Hi Tara
   Lots of anger there – coming out like Old Faithful – and well used – I wish I had written it.

   s.r (Steve)

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   • Uh-oh! Not anger! Mostly I was relating to the skillful writer and how easy it is to become completely wrapped up in the words. Thanks for reading, Steve!

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     • Hi Tara

       I’ll take your word for it, it’s your poem and you know what you’re conveying – I still see something different – anger is too strong a word, but I got some sense of disappointment lurking in there (I would feel disappointed by the other)- but that’s my take – no matter, I very much like the poem. I also like geysers (off subject) – not seen Old F but I’ve stood near the Icelandic hot water shooters.
       Cheers
       Steve

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       • That’s the thing I love about art. It’s subjective. I definitely had feelings of disappointment when I wrote this. Mostly in myself.

         I HAVE seen “Old Faithful” and driving the loop at Yellowstone. It was… uhhhmm… not as amazing as I thought it would be. Underwhelming. I mean, cool, but.. there were other parts of the trip I appreciated so much more. But I would love to visit Iceland. One of the only places in the world I actually want to see.

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5. Hi Tara
   Iceland is certainly worth a visit – fairly expensive – but it looks like a film set for something fantastical. I see you live in Alaska – itself a part of the world with wonderful scenery – not that I have been there. I was in Spitzbergen last spring – it has huge glaciers like Alaska’s – polar bears too and free-roaming reindeer on the outskirts of the one town, Longyearbyen.
   Cheers
   Steve
   PS the UK is lovely too – though I have a fear it will grow more shabby now we have left the EU.

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   • Yes. I have a friend who has visited and his photos were incredible. Much like Alaska, yes, but also different.

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6. ooof TARA. This is powerful. Seriously. I felt that. Especially that revelation in the middle. So relatable. Wow.

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   • Thanks Nathan. I always love your responses. It’s like I’m sitting right next to you lol

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7. Writing that makes you think it’s about you is the best. Indeed, a testament to his writing skills. You want to draw in the audience.
   You will always see “a message” if you want to see it. Even if it’s not there. Same with signs – you can bend any of them to your liking.

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   • YES!! that’s really it, isn’t it. I absolutely love reading something that completely makes me feel a part of it. That’s a good writer.

     And I completely agree with the signs and messages comment. I’ve seen it so many times. Now, I do believe in some things… but if you’re looking, you can force the issue and see signs everywhere.

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8. I know the feeling.

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   • I think we all do sometimes. For me, I think it’s a sign of a good writer. (PS: I’ve written about you on multiple occasions 😉)

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     • PS: And I have written of you.

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       • 💕😘 you’re my favorite whippoorwill ever and always

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9. Powerful piece, but deep and moving. “See, I was romancing myself.” I’ll remember a line like that always.

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   • The reality is, good writers SHOULD make it feel personal, right? But we must remain tethered to reality. We romance ourselves. Thank you so much for the comments! They mean a lot to me.

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     • You’re welcome yes. The key is to be both personal and collective, objective and subject at both time. Is hard to do, but this peice does it. You’re welcome. Have a great start to your week!

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       • Thanks Benjamin! You too.

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