welter skelter
I am not sure how some of these images find me, whether I summon them by my mood or my desires. I don't think I consciously write them; instead, they present themselves to me. I'm a scribe. And an editor, of course, because the muse generally doesn't know what he's doing.
This poem came during a high period when I felt cheerful. Go figure.
powered by ODEO
whelm
come whelm or welter, wet and heavy threats
and I will squirm against the undertow
and fight for one last gasp despite the flood
as stinking sea and driftwood dam the air
come hell, high water, choke, and spit
come flood and trash heap, rust and shit
we’ll clutch a piece of flotsam, ride
it, kick against the cataract
come whelm or welter, you
and I will crash the shore
the consequence of us
the rubble of a choice
posted by fuquinay at 7:32 PM
speak!
4 Comments:
I like the survival symbolism especially "kick against the cataract" which reminds me of Dylan Thomas's "rage, rage against the dying of the light." Sometimes as a couple I have felt that it was us against the world- or at least us against the parking authority- which is pretty much the same thing. I think you captured that well.
12/08/2006 8:39 PM
Just wonderful, Lesley. I do love the sound of your voice. Seems so long since I've heard it.....
You've described how I've felt for the past year, and for me, that's the true voice of a poet; your words, my feelings. Thank you.
12/08/2006 9:15 PM
A touch of Gerard Manley Hopkins in the 'whelm or welter' & some fine images - I like 'the rubble of a choice'.
12/09/2006 5:12 AM
I like your pondering of how images find you by summoning them by your mood or desires. And this is a great line - "as stinking sea and driftwood dam the air" I keep hearing "damn" the air and can't decide which I like better. Well, you got me thinking!
Dennis ~ (ok - no typos!)
12/09/2006 2:29 PM
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