I remember when we lived
beneath creation
with our language suited
to the fatuous and fantastic.
When we never wondered
what our slide rules might not measure,
we saw our ambit through camerae obscurae,
pinpoints of the truth inverted.
When nothing noticed
could be judged too small,
we were circled by minutiae
from the fawning factories,
androids programmed to admire.
When we chanted with believers
and rang the bell three times
to triplicate
our blessings.
~/~
Today we all must breathe
the sky, the water birds
that fall and flutter in their death throes
on the earth.
Today I tramp along a linear regression,
a distended trickle
through a chain of muddy ponds
in empty-headed dreaming of a river.
But in my mind a gif, a spinning
waxen cylinder, evokes the age of life,
scratches melodies for an English lunar lover.
I bow and waltz around the puddles
while morphs of insects
bite and tear my flesh;
drips of salted fluid:
my gift to them.
~/~
Causes once for action are dormant now;
my small life—an increment to destruction,
and in my death there’ll be
no burning ardor. The dead see all
but discover nothing.
My destination is a meeting
to be held beside the sunset,
a dusty roll call with the ghostlings.
Before the night,
I’ll ring the bell three times
to honor Jakaíra,
feathered goddess,
vanquished queen of morning mists,
made mortal by our unrequitable
earthly fire.
about
I’m a great fan of Jakaíra, god of mists and fog in the mythology of Brazil’s Tupi-Guarani peoples. Although I don’t have a signed photograph, she makes guest appearances in the wheel of dreams and the laundromat of time.
artwork
machinae ex deus (detail above)
I’m drowning in beauty. What a feast. But I’m mixing metaphors. Can you drown in a feast? I like to sip them slowly, then go back for a little more. Bravissimo!
Thank you so much, BG. It depends. Possibly a feast of say chocolate pudding or ice cream. It would have to be a fairly large bowl. 🍨 I’m pretty sure you have death by chocolate over there. 😛
Feel like I should find out more about Jakaira! Thank you 🙂
My pleasure. 😸 Jakaíra is on the internet but you won’t find a lot and Portuguese is helpful. 😸 I like to make it up. For example, she’s the god who maintains creative balance: every time someone invents or creates anew, she makes something that already exists vanish into the mist. ⚖️
Wow! Nice. In my next life I’ll try to remember to be born in Brazil or maybe Portugal — but not Angola 🙂 Enjoy your week!!
You too, você também. 🙂
Lesson 1, thank you teacher 😊🍎
This might be one of your finest pieces Steve. Hard to determine, that, but it’s up there.
So many lovely lovely phrases like:
When nothing noticed
could be judged too small,
we were circled by minutiae
and :
Causes once for action are dormant now;
my small life—an increment to destruction,
Much pleasure for me here.
Bravo.
Thanks so much Frank. My mouth is hanging open, but I’m still typing. 😃 Interesting the lines you chose. I find it hard to see myself and my circles with clarity, without drifting into bitterness, even pride or whatever. I tried to be true without the darkness, although I still carry stuff hardly changed from childhood.
When I was ten or so I took a galena crystal from my rock collection, put a sharp wire on it attached to a downpipe and listened to many radio stations at once through a tiny earpiece. We had radios of course but … small things. 🤓
I personally think the small things are the ones that matter. I don’t feel I can adequately grasp the biggest issues and deal well with them, but the small things, the smaller elements, sometimes I can do something with those.
I like your small things, blended as they are into bigger stories. Nice work. Now go do more! LMAO
Thanks Frank. I’ll try, but you have to be careful. I wouldn’t want to burn out because I wrote more than a sentence a day. 😁
Ya, and as for putting in commas …
Wow, Steve, you like metaphors more than I do. This is great writing and perfect quiet Saturday morning reading. Thank you.
Thanks for stopping by my blog as well,
Audrey
You’re very welcome Audrey, and I am fond of metaphors in a friendly, comment-on-the-weather-at-the-bus-stop kind of way, “Looks like another sky fish shower, sunchaser for dinner again tonight.”
I enjoy your work, it has a beautiful breezy feel, so thank you, Steve 🙂
Thank you for that, Steve
This starts off so optimistic, but it feels as if a different reality sets in, one in which nature begins to die and realization that not all is wonderful occurs. For whom the bell tolls…three times…
Well done.
That’s the way it goes. The inevitable heat death of the universe, the sun turning to a red giant and roasting the earth, not to mention running out of coffee. ☕️ I mean, what do we want? Reality or fantasy? Fantasy of course. Ring that bell. 🔔 🔔🔔 Thank you Sascha.
some of us want reality tinged with fantasy…a lot of fantasy….is that a tangent?’
More coffee….a latte actually.
And it’s: ring that bell of freedom, right?
Fair enough, to each their own. Maybe chimes of freedom too? Time for Byrds. And Pinot. 😁
Byrds as in Turn, Turn, Turn? Make mine noir, please.
Noir enough then (it’s all I have actually). Yes and Chimes of Freedom, I like their version–‘tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed.’
Ha, I thought you were grigio. I don’t know Chimes of Freedom, at least I don’t think I do. (Who knows what’s actually IN this head?) I’ll check it out. That is a good line.
Your words exude a humbling power, friend. A truly captivating light, indeed.
Thank you for those kind thoughts, I appreciate it. It’s difficult to find time and knowing that people get something out if it keeps me going. Very much enjoyed your work, by the way. 🌗
I am glad you found my work worth your time 😊
Good post, and the artwork is amazing.
Thanks, playing with a few new things. With the artwork, I wanted to capture mechanical creation as well as spiritual belief.
The images are glorious. You have me transfixed on another world
Thanks, I hope you have a safe return journey by hypershuttle, 🚀 and thanks also for an insightful look at what happens on planet earth at your place. 🙂
Interesting and excellent piece. Thank you for following ThusNSuch.
Thanks and you’re very welcome. I enjoy your style, although I fear I will not be trying your coffee for technical reasons. 😸