Time after time I imbibe my fine libations
(prescribed). I try to find ways to tie my mind
to this tiresome task, reminding my wild self
my life depends on it, and why I desire
this life to unwind slowly, not lightly fly
too fast into nothingness. To stay a while yet,
to fight to be I. ‘I am the light!’ I cry.
And my mind, even on the slightest shift,
the tiniest tangent, never mind one so mighty,
replies by trying to define the why of this cry:
why I, so minute, so minor, aspire to be light,
in fact to be THE light. The sun in the sky?
Dare I fly so high? What lies behind this
quiet pining to become in time a kind of fire?
I shy away from further enquiries, liking
questions better than replies which might
or might not provide bona fide answers
to guide my soul in the right direction.
Night falls – lightly, silently, but timely,
defining the (rightly) finite kind of this
fine exploration or wild speculation or
benign diversion … now silence is mine.
Written to my own prompt for Friday Writings #166 at Poets and Storytellers United, in which I invite people to choose one letter/sound and see what happens when they concentrate on that in a piece of writing.
I think a lot of nonsense has happened in this case! And it's hard for me to discern what effect the 'I' sound has, except perhaps to slow the movement down at times. In this case I wasn't choosing a sound to have an expected, particular effect. I was more exploring, to see what effect this repetition might have. I wanted to see what a vowel sound would do, and chose this one at random.
Thoughful expression.
ReplyDeleteThe "I" has a lot of power.
Many think it's "ego".
But, the fact is- I has light, speculation & silence too.
Thank you for reading so thoughtfully.
DeleteAlways good to arrive with silence in the "I" - Jae
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jae, for that positive slant on it. (Though perhaps I was merely thinking, 'I'd better just shut up now!')
DeleteHow can we speak for ourselves without it? You gave weight to the queen of letters, the way we stand apart from others and contemplate our moment of glory in this transitory life.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you! Perhaps I shoudn't dismiss this poem after all.
DeleteLove it. Lovely to read, with a lot of "i"s in the words. A bit tongue-tied at times, but fun.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the time i wrote a poem without an 'e'. Good exercise. :)
Perhaps I overdid it a bit! That's the trouble with an exercise which remains more that than anything else. Still, as you say, fun.
DeleteA very reflective pieces. It overlaps with many of my own questions.
ReplyDeleteWe do seem to be on the same wavelength at times. Wonder if it comes from being Taswegian? (Even more – Launcestonian.)
DeleteThis must have been crazy hard to write... but also may be wonderful read aloud... A fascinating exercise. Also I think I must hold on to "I am the light" - tell myself that several times a day. Love this whole thing.
ReplyDeleteYes it's fun to read aloud, and also a bit of a tongue-twister. I don't think it would work as a performance piece though; too many complicated tangles of thought! However, it seems I should rate it more highly than I did at first, judging by everyone's reactions.
DeleteThis was fascinating to read. I like the power of "I".
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked it!
Delete