Tuesday 9 November 2021

#678 - paean to poem

 



10.xi.21

678

2.314

paean to poem

an ode stretch sun and sing

notes towards a study of what a poem can be

 

is it the spirit returning?

words lost where we were before?

 

you see how it comes in the form of a question

 

a poem is my vanishing

and singularity

 

as long as the song

 

much lusted trick of wish

a squabble for the weather till

 

these mysteries – conception, birth

belong like duties here

 

and tickle me too

take dark to task

 

the way out of words

is how do you think?

 

let me simply say

it’s what can be done no other way

where words may otherwise not go

 

the room in elephants, ice cream and grief

 

hello, I welcome in

slung quiver of guesses

 

such faith leaps

and dissents from the floor

 

a poem sounds nothing like the world

and yet there’s mirror in it

 

so skyfalls

clouds throng

on we with

 

are an echo until

 

I break into the house of words

make off with whatever I can

 

a poem is full of error

join the dots

 

birdsong in each, fresh breath

 

event, distraction

 

a kind of porridge drowning

would be the prose of the world

 

but spark !

as if spoke

 

a poke at fact

and prod

so stick it

 

(ask which bits are best)

 

Shiva and Kali

devil may care

when flighty angels trip the switch

 

top of a carnival to you

thrills, spills

 

some will say nonsense

and I say hurrah

(home schooling is what a poem is)

 

I stretch the frame on this for music

I’m tortured on the rack

 

a poem is where writing’s invented

it’s always the first day

headful of conversation to come

 

and keep on telling where it goes

 

old habit of mine

like persisting

 

but poetry!

the voice becomes a cello

and the cello is a tree

 

trail I have followed as far as here  

 

banking of a breeze

with just the feathers bare

 

and the poets?

they sniff each nearest tail

compete for post

roll mire

 

chords from which hope

and the sun’s tune

 

finding some self or other

poets disorder a world

once and for all

 

today I invent the wheel again

 

top, bottom trill

a signature makes mine

all threatened species here

 

what is a poem?

keep asking

who cares

 

it is the breeze through my brain

pluck cobwebs

tune each to

in for a penny

 

whence idiom hopscotch

metaphor mixing

 

we’re here but why?

 

out on a limb – so saw!

 

it’s better than philosophy

is better than religion

 

take the randomness of dreams

leaf up!

 

and dwell forever in the moment

where heaven sent

this is the way to soar

 

get my drift?

no, never!

 

this is the rug out from under

a tug

 

and perching on my head right now

where no one dares to see

 

everything falls into a poem

it’s ‘dig here’, so to speak

 

in a garden where

paths lose your way

 

the clock is ticking for this

that’s a kind of mourning

 

show us your tongue

that’s it

pants down

all on fire

 

poetry’s for everyone

it’s in each to do

 

no one has ever attempted this

no one has come so far

 

here we are and welcome

as spider to the fly once said

beseech you

won’t you please come in

 

bung chorus

please, all sing!






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