dr_con Posted September 19, 2013 Share Posted September 19, 2013 The Cartographer's Lament He She It whatever signifier you use Isn’t an Architect he’s a cartographer Beneath those damn dragons is always more water unmapped topologies we don’t even know if they’re particles or waves I fail to see why he is so agitated But surely the map is not the territory He sets his hat between us Where is that? In September when I wrote it or maybe on green formica desk with jars filled with mostly useless pens in a rainbow of colors but red has leaked occasionally getting on my hands leading later to a momentary panic when handling big kitchen knife chopping onions for dinner But you said between Which is useless because you may be in Mumbai and I prefer Bombay sounds more romantic but I am poisoned by youthful colonialism Surely first locals preferred words for ‘a meeting of rivers’ to Binghamton inexplicably without P Do you see now? That’s X on the map and who else could draw these lines finer than dust and smaller than dizzying molecular heights Certainly not me we’re latitude and longitude kind of creatures with big plans and hotter futures Whoever decides direction and mean decides can be and what can’t The seen and seamless and he must have origami eyes That’s obscene! The dogwood in the corner growing new leaves despite handsaw bite mostly through abandoned during a summer heat wave when lamenting again on the humidity besides the white rose bush whose name we still do not know despite ample opportunities to find out and I keep forgetting about potato fruits because of the assumption the plant is a vegetable No architect can choose what we see Ok thanks Where did you say… O I see I’ll head over there now. Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcmarti1 Posted September 20, 2013 Share Posted September 20, 2013 but red has leakedoccasionally getting on my hands leadinglater to a momentary panic when handlingbig kitchen knife chopping onions for dinner I get the humor here, Juris, but I am lost overall on this one. I can "feel" the distress in the speaker and tension in the piece, but I am lost. BUT.....you have SUCH an existential truth right here: despite ample opportunities to find out Marvy-poo! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted September 20, 2013 Author Share Posted September 20, 2013 DC, No worries on confusion;-) This was a highly experimental piece I wrote a few weeks ago (I secretly don't even consider it poetry). But 2 people who read it on my ego-dump list serve, contacted me several days later and said: Hey is this what the poem was about? And I said yes. Decided to post it here just to see what would happen;-) Thanks for taking the time, and no worries- Glad you found something of worth! ;-) Juris Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedalus Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 ˙mmm - one can just fall into parts of this poem ... but I am poisoned by youthful colonialism Surely first locals preferred words for ‘a meeting of rivers’ to Binghamton inexplicably without P and Certainly not me we’re latitude and longitude kind of creatures with big plans and hotter futures Whoever decides direction and mean decides (what) can be and what can’t The seen and seamless and he must have origami eyes Made me consider, and I like that. Cheers, Bren Quote Drown your sorrows in drink, by all means, but the real sorrows can swim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Thanks Bren for stopping in. Excellent some of my favorite stanzas from this. Appreciate the feedback. Many Thanks, Juris Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatekeeper Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 All over the map, so to speak, but that's okay. I like maps. I won't excerpt favorite pieces - there are many. Thanks for sharing your experiment. Quote from the black desert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdelano Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 An ancient navigator still finds magic in cartography. Now, if I could firmly fix my position. The work seemed disjointed at times, but perhaps that's what you intended. I like having the choice to interpret if I can get a handle on at least the theme. Those who rely only on maps often go missing. This brought back many memories and times of camaraderie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David W. Parsley Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 Interesting and downright brilliant in place. Rife with dualities (not just the wave-particle type), it is definitely a ride, even if by fits and starts. But this experiment does not quite "go all the way" for me, doc: the falls do not all connect but they are fun! - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted October 2, 2013 Author Share Posted October 2, 2013 Thanks Paco & Dave, indeed I think this piece requires the reader to bring their own back-pack, compass, and supplies for a long orienteering exercise: I'm very gratified you both came prepared, and if you became lost well, that's all on me! ;-) Con/Jur/D Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted October 9, 2013 Share Posted October 9, 2013 I've enjoyed this more than once though decided to float a feather on the breeze for directions “There and back again”:-) G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_con Posted October 28, 2013 Author Share Posted October 28, 2013 I can't but help, loving a Hobbit quote for a piece of mine;-) Thanks G! Quote thegateless.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.