(Zuihitsu)
From the sky is rising delirious music – light and sound together, singing and dancing. I look to the clouds; they swirl and disperse and re-integrate. They move constantly, but gentle and slow.
Unless storm comes, then they agitate and deepen, they seem to scowl.
But the sky does not scowl at me, I won’t believe it. From the sky has always come my help, my source of wisdom. Those eyes in the sky that see me clear and watch over me. Those voices that make new sentences in my soul, which I then hear as wisdom, as protective advice.
Obey the voice of the sky! Then watch the clouds, and move like they. Don’t cower; they’re only going dancing.
I make of my dreams a cloud. I make of my cloud a veil. I drop it over me. It hides me. It conceals me from the world. It keeps me safe. Inside that veil I can soar, I can sing.
I walk out into the world. I am wrapped, invisibly to other people but not to me, in a cloak like fine-spun silk, a cloak of sky.
People don’t see this, but trees do … and birds, and dogs and cats …
Some young children see it too, I know as our eyes briefly meet.
Written for dVerse Meeting the Bar: Zuihitsu. (Does this meet the form? I'm not sure. It's my first attempt. 'Follow the brush,' we are told. So I followed my random thoughts. Is zuihitsu the same as stream of consciousness? I'm not a fan of James Joyce, nor even Jack Kerouac ... but I do love Kimiko Hahn, who has done much to introduce zuihitsu to the Western world.)
Beautifully written Rosemary Ma'am! You allowed your stream of consciousness to freely flow just as the brush moves forward freely. It's nice to be back again!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thanks, Hank! That is indeed what I was trying to do.
DeleteThis was beautiful, Rosemary--and beautifully crafted, too. It's a stream, but with a beginning and a profound ending. 💙 I think you've mastered the form that I didn't quite understand. I'm so pleased you wrote to the prompt!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Merrill. I think most of us have been feeling we don't quite understand this form – and yet everyone's producing great examples of it.
DeleteA cloak of sky; what a delightful description! I think it would be amazing (not to mention convenient) to have a cloak of invisibility! Wonderful poem, Rosemary
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed it!
DeleteI love how this ends... and thank you for introducing me to the form. Am not sure what this form expects exactly but it such fun to write. My inspiration was this: https://aaww.org/winter-walks/ - a mix of quotes, shifting subjects as "the brush moves" and pieces of prose or poetry all just flowing together. It does seem like stream of consciousness but with more randomness in style and subject. Or maybe I haven't understood it at all :) :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I am thinking this form doesn't have expectations, so much as possibilities. And how I love that! I found 'follow the brush' the most liberating of instructions. Ad yet it's not haphazard; the brush creates line, shape ...
DeleteYeah, that's a better way to go... just wherever it takes you... will try another one sometime soon :)
DeleteMe too.
Delete“I make of my dreams a cloud. I make of my cloud a veil. I drop it over me. It hides me. It conceals me from the world. It keeps me safe. Inside that veil I can soar, I can sing.“
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, Rosemary!
Sara
DeleteThanks, Sara.
Deletewell I just simply and utterly adore what your brush did here. That veil... beautiful writing. thanks.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you Selma. What a lovely comment!
Delete