Enter Darkness, Exit Darkness

Out of the loop-under the blue moon -
Making my way to desire in the least of things
I curl my hair, listen when I can,
Kindle my dreams and head for land
‘Cause I’m floating on yesterday,
Forgetting my dream, making my album
Of times that I’ve seen:
Cops on the Muni joking with the homeless,
Yuppy scum texting, ignore the handicapped…
I hear my righteous indignation
Drowning my thoughts.
I’m making a candle for what won’t happen today.

Good one, Peter. Happy new year to you!

Les

Beautiful Peter, I love your closing lines!

Thank you both. Over the years here I have watched each of you offer encouragement to the other poets in this forum - the heart-blood of the place.

Cheers,

Peter

I’m making a candle for what won’t happen today.

... you might want to make a couple extra for what won't happen tomorrow too, no?

Sorry, Peter, but that's what came immediately to mind when reading the last line. Not exactly an encouraging response, but I get a sense of hopelessness within the poem for the inhumanity that will presumably outlive us all.

On a lighter note, I wish you and everyone at e-mule a Happy New Year!

Peace,
Mary

Poignant closing line, Peter, though not very hopeful as we enter the new year. My glasses are hardly rose-colored, but there is a lot of good taking place around us all. I'm not normally a resolution-maker, but this year I will do my best to stay focused more on what is right with the world, while not ignoring that which is wrong.

That notwithstanding, this is a very fine poem.

Happy New Year!

Joe

Thanks for visiting, Mary and Joseph.

Somewhere behind this poem is:

1. the image of the sparrow flying through the mede hall the Anglo-Saxons used to symbolize of passing through this life...from darkness back into darkness. Hence, the title.

2. My own ironic stance toward my 'righteous indignation' concerning what goes on around me that I disapprove of. That is, the position of the judge must itself be critiqued, since we are all of this world.

3. Finally, I remember the old saw about it being better to light a candle in the darkness than to merely curse the darkness.

So though there's no unwarranted optimism in the poem, I think I am saying we must still do what we can in dark times, like the one's we actually like within.

My politics is not sophisticated enough to offer an analysis and resolution to contemporary troubles, but I am a maker of thoughts, as a poem and philosopher, so I do have something to contribute in resistance to the current darkness.

And, yes, Mary, one candle for one day has never been enough, which is why I have a box marked: 'vigilance.'

be well,

Peter

Btw I had the pleasure today to read this to a room of sixty other poets, painters, musicians and other artists. It was received well.

I really like this poem.

"Of times that I’ve seen:
Cops on the Muni joking with the homeless,
Yuppy scum texting, ignore the handicapped…
I hear my righteous indignation
Drowning my thoughts.
I’m making a candle for what won’t happen today."

That part makes so many thoughts come to mind.

(I just read your previous reply to the comments, and wanted to say congratulations)

mg

here's the scene...Fanny Renoir, Ronald Sauer, etc. in photo taken by John Perino.

Thanks, mg, I appeciate the feedback.

amo,

Peter

Really nice picture, Peter. It shows up here in black and white (not sure if b & w film was used), which makes it very neat. The event looks wonderfully festive and although I don't know of the people you mention, I presume they are known as talented artists and certainly appear to be a marvelously interesting group. I, for one, appreciate the glimpse as it makes my life vicariously more interesting as well.

That would be a nice picture to have blown up and hanging in the homes of your children. A picture like that could be particularly meaningful to a grandchild or even generations further down the line.

Mary

Beautiful poem , Peter. I really enjoyed reading. Your last line actually hit me a bit differently. It reminded me of my friend who always lights candles for me whenever she goes to church. She does that in hope, not despare, out of love and care. I read that in your poem: the love, care and hope1
Be well!

lifeisbutadream:

I too think of you almost every day. Actually, the last line is so ambiguous that my friend Ronald Sauer - sitting oposite me in the photgraph above - was saying to me at the banquet that he likes it because it contained 'the appropiate degree of obscurity'!

be well,

Peter

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2022 10:56PM by petersz.