Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Big Tent Poetry 1-1-11



LIST
Don't ask, "Are you afraid?"--
everyone is afraid. Ask, "Where
can we find to run?"


-William Stafford
More than Words Can Tell



"Where to run?" Stuck here
in our five-dimensional lives
enfolded in a multi-dimensional universe
we run, eat, sleep, make love,
and wonder. We lie in our beds
and watch the light creep in
illuminating cracks on the walls and the
maculate ceilings as constellations,continents,
faces, emblems, and chronicles, interpreting them
as Signs. We hear dogs barking,
touch one another, cry, say goodbye, run, pray,
write poems, ask questions, make lists,
and run, as if any of these things might suggest
true exploration of what really is,
as if they might be messages
from some far star
that will help us understand Where?
And Why? And What it means to be human?



(NOT my ceiling, btw. Just thot I'd mention that.:D )

10 comments:

Dana said...

"as if any of these things might suggest / true exploration of what really is"

There's the rub, no? It's a beautiful poem, and I love those lines. I love that this poem creates meaning even while questioning the ability to make meaning.

nan said...

Beautiful. Happy New Year, Joyce Ellen!

Anonymous said...

"the maculate ceilings as constellations,continents,
faces, emblems, and chronicles, interpreting them
as Signs. " This image is really striking - shows how we try to make sense of things in the strangest ways.

Great work! Happy New Year!

Anonymous said...

it's those things we do every day almost without thinking that add up to our lives -- and so i enjoyed this very much: the wondering if we can really make it meaningful. (perhaps that's the best use of a new year!)

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful poem that doesn't appear "too listy" and so many can relate to. BTW, I love, love, love your "about." Makes me want to completely rewrite mine. So glad you visited my blog so I could discover yours.

Elizabeth said...

A list poem that doesn't wave its hands and say, "I'm a list poem." I admire that a great deal. And agree that we often look in strange places for meaning. Thank you for this one,

Elizabeth

flaubert said...

Joyce this is a beautiful poem.
Happy New Year.
Pamela

Jo A. T.B. said...

Love this Joyce, and love you!!! Happy New Year!

Wayne Pitchko said...

nicely done..thanks for sharing..have a happy healthy NY

Uma Anandane said...

Routine of our life.Nicely written