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Open Poetry #27
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Out of an obscure moment
| Open Poetry #27 |
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Out of an obscure moment |
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Old_Shoe_New_Laces Junior Member
since 2003-06-16
Posts 31 |
(Written for the June 28, 2003 New Brunswick "Voices of the University Community" Reading) Out of an obscure moment Tonight as I got into bed and pulled out my paper and pen I thought about a topic, thought about where to begin, particulars, perhaps something simple, a parked car in the rain, the shadow from a chair, nail clippers, an unopened beer on the bookshelf, a coffee can full of change, laundry on the floor, but what is there to say about such things, other than their existence. “Poetry?” one might ask and I must admit, I haven’t any answer, I imagine my neighbors’ cat getting hit by a car, not knowing why and suddenly a meow from the downstairs television as I wrestle a piece of meat out of my teeth with my tongue, chew it, swallow, thinking of the cow on the day of its butchering, one of many in a line, and I wonder how they killed it, a blow to the skull, something quick, immediate I hope. Then the roast in the market, my mothers hands picking it out, placing it in the cart, her standing at the stove, salt and pepper, strips on my plate and the juice it left behind I had a professor who asked the meaning of many poems, most of which I did not understand, and tonight a discussion with a friend, he said to me, “truth and meaning don’t really matter so long as they get it right in the poem,” I agreed and we spoke of poetry and instance without coming to any set conclusions or principles, just ideas, I told him stories about my father, the weather in Jersey, how I thought my mom might have been upset that I didn’t try her peach cobbler, many psychologists and philosophers suggest that it is our ability to reason which separates us from the other animals, but when I think of the rational and irrational I have a difficult time swallowing reason, so if anyone were to ask me why it rained all day, I could give them a list of possibilities, an entire thesis with an endless multitude of factors for this occurrence, none which would exemplify an actual reason for the rain, so instead I say, “it rained” and have become comfortable with just that. Two boys stand in line at a concession stand, one craves milk duds and sour patch kids, the other the girl behind the counter, they both settle for a cola and let the rest slide away, it is as if the wind births pain and sorrow, only to pass change direction and return once again, and I like the tree bear this burden, its weight against my limbs, we sway this way, a dance unlike a dance which keeps us moving into the hours, I remember sitting in a cornfield, age five, playing in the dirt with the rocks upturned by the plow, the sound of rustling corn stalks, a happiness under the sun, what makes things significant to the mind, paintings, photos, a favorite hat, we cling to items or memories, images, and tonight our chocolate lab, I recall the cloudy cataracts of her eyes, how she struggled to walk with her bad hips before she was put to sleep, I could tell you about my last lover’s soft lips, or how sometimes when I kissed her, I opened my eyes just to see her expression, but none of this will explain what I mean when I say the emptiness of this room is like the emptiness of these words, the glass on the dresser, or the hollow drum that is my heart tonight. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Talk about a stream of (un)consciousness! You really did run around a lot in this write, covered a myriad of diverse topics. Were you actually able to swallow that piece of meat after thinking about the cow? An interesting write, OSNL |
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Kaoru
since 2003-06-07
Posts 3892where the wild flowers grow |
Interesting, indeed. This all flows very well together.. Adding this to my library.  |
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passing shadows Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577displaced |
I wish I could let my mind go like that |
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Temptress
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-06-15
Posts 7136Mobile, AL |
Damn... thats all and one other word comes to mind LIBRARY! Late at night you'll come crawling back |
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