Wednesday, March 9, 2011

the trouble with pursuit

a fragmented network of thoughts
I've fashioned the key
ring from the inklings
leaking out of the cracks of my own skin

impish little insights
cavernous depths for meager frames
and I'll turn each key
until it turns
the handle I've been fumbling for

and every word wears every word
as a cloak

and every hole is there to snatch
your stark naked eyes

and when the masks shatter at feet
no one will be concerned with ownership

I will grit my teeth, roll up my sleeves
clench my fists, and fortify my gut
brave the darkness
and you

key key key key key key key key
key key key key key key key key
key key key key key key key key
key key key key key key key key
key key key key key key key key

the door swings, not open
for there awaits yet another door

3 comments:

Writer Yogi said...

I like the concept of this idea. The ending with all the keys and then finding another door was great. I was a bit confused in the middle. The second stanza to the mask part. Perhaps you could explain it to me?

Russ said...

I'm not entirely sure if this really means anything the way it is written, it's something I could work with a bit more.

The masks come out of nowhere but are meant to represent any voice or recipient. A roundabout way of saying words like "I" or "you" are irrelevant, all the words are masking something. And of course, if everything was in complete darkness, you couldn't see someone's face anyway. But none of that comes through. I guess the poem might be a useless exercise in describing itself

Writer Yogi said...

I wouldn't call it useless at all. That sounds clever to me. I like the masks idea. Don't let me dictate your work. I just asked. You don't always get to ask authors what they were thinking with their work ya know. :)