The Girl with the Glasgow Grin | Teen Ink

The Girl with the Glasgow Grin

February 6, 2012
By NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” ~Robert Frost


I see the monument in the distance
And a blossom blooms in my brain.
My feet stop dead in their tracks,
Omniscient of the lots around them.
January shivers down my spine,
Unlocking a memory I want to forget;
But I see her face every-time.
She has no name.
They call her The Girl with the Glasgow Grin.

My heart beats heavy
When I think of her.
I see her:
Her laugh, her fear, her plea;
A life clipped short.
But they don't care;
She's a present to them, a mystery wrapped in enigma,
Just as the Wolf-Man sent.
She is more to me, a part of me.
Why? Why do I feel this horrific bond?
I never knew her.
I never knew The Girl with the Glasgow Grin.

My eyes haven't tricked me, time has.
I see her there, lying among the clumps of brown grass,
Arms beckoning in false exaltation,
Her dreams eaten by weeds.
The curls of her black petals,
Burnt wisps in stagnant air.
Warm skin melted to ivory;
Translucent eyes turned opaque.
They rejoice at the sight of her, the Fiends!
This is all she is to them:
The Girl with the Glasgow Grin.

They like to gossip
And libel her.
She's the gutter w*****, the flashy escort, the exotic temptress.
She's divided, stem cut.
The flower preserved in perversity,
The roots tainted by noir.
But I see her unscathed:
Sweet.
Kind.
Naïve.
Lost, trying to find her way.
What have they done to you?
You are more than what they have made you.
You are more than The Girl with the Glasgow Grin.

I know the truth
But I am just one.
I can't stop them. They won't listen.
They need only what the Wolf-Man has given.
I want to tell her it's not her fault.
I want to tell her it's okay.
But she can't hear me;
She's a memory now,
Silenced in a world where she can not speak,
Can not feel,
Can not cry her liquid tears.
What about me? I come back to myself.
I should be moving on, yet I linger
So that I might catch a glimpse
Of The Girl with the Glasgow Grin.

The author's comments:
This is the first poem I've written in six years. I'm not sure why I felt so compelled to write this. It's dark, but it has deep personal meaning to me.

This is the first in a collection of three.

Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 145 comments.


NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Mar. 3 2012 at 6:01 pm
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
“In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.” ~Robert Frost

Perhaps Edgar Allen Poe? I've had many people come to me and make that comparison after they've read this, although I did not purposely try to mimick his style.

And yes this is my favorite poem of mine because of how convoluted and enigmatic I was able to make it. This one, has also the most personal significance for me, which is why I folded the words so carefully to protect the meaning. Each line in this poem has alot of weight behind it, Which is why I think most people don't like this one as much as my other two.

But thats okay, because if I wanted the meaning to be obvious, I would have spelled it out for the reader. I understand why people don't like this one as much. It's very complicated and requires alot of analyzation to figure out. But thats why I love it so much.

on Mar. 3 2012 at 5:48 pm
Helena_Noel BRONZE, Burnt Hills, New York
1 article 0 photos 629 comments

Favorite Quote:
“I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way: The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear, fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear.” -Edgar Guest

Ahg! This reminds me of something........ and it is gone. I can't shake the feeling, though, that this mirrors the style of another poet I've read. I don't know why I can't put my finger on it, I haven't read many poets with a dark style like this so it should be easy.

I can't say I understand much of your poems metaphore(but then, perhaps, there isnt one), but I do love the style, the words, the raw emotion it displays and manages to incite even without me fully comprehending. I feel the second stanza is puzzling. I want to rate this four out of five, but feel like it deserves more. I will comeback later and read it again, then rate it.


on Mar. 2 2012 at 2:56 pm
JesusFreak3 SILVER, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
6 articles 0 photos 33 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;When everything around me falls to pieces, I&#039;ve got something more in my life. When I&#039;m broken only God completes me.&quot;<br /> Krystal Meyers<br /> &quot;God is love&quot;<br /> --Bible<br /> &quot;An eye for an eye makes everyone blind.&quot;<br /> --Gandhi

That's really good! You did a good job with imagery and voice...

NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Feb. 29 2012 at 12:00 pm
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;In three words I can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned about life: it goes on.&rdquo; ~Robert Frost

Thank you!

NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Feb. 29 2012 at 12:00 pm
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;In three words I can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned about life: it goes on.&rdquo; ~Robert Frost

Thank you so much for the compliments!

And yes it makes perfect sense :)

I'm glad you pointed that out, because I was hoping to achieve that effect.


NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Feb. 29 2012 at 12:18 am
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;In three words I can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned about life: it goes on.&rdquo; ~Robert Frost

No, I never read that book. But its interesting you'd make such a comparison. And thank you, this one is my favorite of mine as well :)

on Feb. 28 2012 at 5:54 pm
Studio_Riet GOLD, Tonasket, Washington
16 articles 0 photos 124 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot; Times you see, is a little arrangement that man has made for himself to try to measure the immeasurable mysteries of life.&quot; -Calypso to Ulysses (Bernard Evslin.)<br /> &quot;You don&#039;t have a soul, you are a soul. You have a body&quot; - CS Lewis

Have you read the book Beautiful Creautres? This poem kind of reminds me of it. . . I think this one is my favorite of yours. :)

on Feb. 27 2012 at 2:49 pm
KateLynnLeigh BRONZE, Farmersburg, Indiana
3 articles 4 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The only way to get to the top is to get off your bottom.&quot;

Wow... It's really good. I love it!!!

on Feb. 27 2012 at 2:49 pm
KateLynnLeigh BRONZE, Farmersburg, Indiana
3 articles 4 photos 39 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The only way to get to the top is to get off your bottom.&quot;

Wow... It's really good. I love it!!!

on Feb. 27 2012 at 2:11 pm
AlaskaGirl GOLD, Klawock, Alaska
11 articles 4 photos 147 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Screw the shining armor. I will take my man in dirty camo any day&quot;

NICKY I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! really good :)

anon12345 said...
on Feb. 26 2012 at 9:15 pm
anon12345, Gys Drive, California
0 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;If there is a will, there&#039;s a way&quot;- Theodore Hertzel

wow, this is really good and creative!!

can you comment and review mine?

TeenInk.com/poetry/free_verse/article/432394/Overcome/I.White: if people comment on my poems, i'll comment and rate theirs


ShayNon said...
on Feb. 25 2012 at 2:27 pm
So while  do like this one, it definitely seems like it needs the others in the ollection to complete it. It has a feeling of unresolved longing and guilt, which works with the poetic tone, but is also a little strange. owever, the end f the tird poem brings it all to a close. Overall, a strong poem, and a fantastic collection. You deserve an award or something.

NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Feb. 24 2012 at 6:31 pm
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;In three words I can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned about life: it goes on.&rdquo; ~Robert Frost

Thank you very much! I'm glad you liked it!

on Feb. 24 2012 at 6:17 pm
Writer_Jordan GOLD, Ellicott City, Maryland
15 articles 0 photos 182 comments

Favorite Quote:
All that is gold does not glitter,<br /> Not all those who wander are lost;<br /> The old that is strong does not wither,<br /> Deep roots are not reached by the frost.<br /> From the ashes a fire shall be woken,<br /> A light from the shadows shall spring;<br /> Renewed shall be blade that was broken,<br /> The crownless again shall be king.

Wow! I can't believe how well you were about to describe her in this poem! I was taken aback by the quality!!! You're one of the best poets I've ever read.

on Feb. 23 2012 at 9:38 pm
Rainbowmadhatter, Reno, Nevada
0 articles 0 photos 81 comments
 like this it shows character..its awsome..keep up  the great writing11

on Feb. 23 2012 at 4:04 pm
Ruthie_j BRONZE, Lilburn, Georgia
3 articles 5 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
The Church Is Not a Bless Me Club .

VERY Interesting :) Keep it up!!!

Just_Jill GOLD said...
on Feb. 19 2012 at 11:36 pm
Just_Jill GOLD, Gallipolis Ferry, West Virginia
16 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
Courage is not a lack of fear, it is acting despite the fear.

This is a very good peom. I would also like to say that I love the use of repitition at the end of each stanza, it adds a nice rythm that gave it an almost haunting feeling if that makes sense, anyway, good job. :)

on Feb. 19 2012 at 8:34 am
babyrex4 SILVER, Buffalo, New York
5 articles 6 photos 191 comments

Favorite Quote:
\&quot;You may only be someone in the world, but to someone else, you may be the world.\&quot;<br /> <br /> Author Unknown

Wow, this is such a beautiful poem! The imagery is great, and I wish someone could write a poem like this for me :(. What I like most about poems is the imagery and the meanings of them, and yours had excellent imagery and meaning! Please keep writing, why did you stop for so long? If you could please check out some of my poetry that would mean so much :)!

NickyJ BRONZE said...
on Feb. 18 2012 at 11:50 pm
NickyJ BRONZE, Hyde Park, New York
1 article 0 photos 138 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;In three words I can sum up everything I&#039;ve learned about life: it goes on.&rdquo; ~Robert Frost

You're the first person to describe it like that, and I think it's an extremely accurate description. Thank you for compliments and I'm glad you liked it.

on Feb. 18 2012 at 11:42 pm
EmmettHerculeLaFave SILVER, Tucson, Arizona
8 articles 0 photos 70 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;We have it in our power to begin the world over again.&quot; -Thomas Paine

Awesome. Very powerful, very gritty. A darker shade of beauty.