Dverse
i am someone
who spends most of the time
swimming under water
flying under the radar
distancing myself from
a world immersed in greed
cruelty and inequity
demonstrated by the AustralianTreasurer
tonight
who has released a budget which
persecutes the poor and the vulnerable
to the rattle of Prime Minister Abbot's rosary beads
in his expensive suit pocket
my periscope goes up
occasionally
i survey the surrounds
process it - gasp
then withdraw back to
the deep
i have been here far too long
to ever resurface and return
to land
i have revisited only to discover
that i don't belong anywhere
out there any more
what i remembered
what i valued
no longer exists
maybe it only ever existed in books
all my peers
have settled on land
in the spirit of progress
in the interest of survival
but hardly what i call living
i now remain alone
in the spirit of peace
in the quest for truth
isolated
in the kingdom of coral and starfish
in the evolution progess
a few got left behind
another school of thought
might say we are way in front
lots and lots of things
so many wondrous things
there will be never
enough time to
address them all
Albert
Geoffrey
Ray
Ivan
Peter
Andrew
Etienne
Lee
Jack
Barry
Michael
George
(at the moment)
and sometimes
nobody
subject to mood swings
temporal fluctuations
tides
lunar phases
seasonal affective disorder
S.A.D
I think this 'outsider's' sensitivity and quest for truth may be common to quite a few poets... swimming under the water, flying under the radar, in the spirit of progress, the interest of survival... I like the way you take these cliches and subvert them.
ReplyDeletesad to think those values only exist in books...and its a scary world when the money controls the crown...though i dont know it has ever been not controlling the crown...maybe just not being so blatantly obvious....its sickening at times...dont know that i can hide from it...
ReplyDeleteto walk those ways outside .. many striking thoughts, I like the image of being left behind .. was it better? what is progress?... and your choice of images are well chosen..
ReplyDeletei suppose the problem came..when surviving IS NOT enough..
ReplyDeleteit's enough for me..
but not always as such..then...
But what i find..now..
is i out on land..
in now..
i live this way..
without a care
for those who think..
survival is not enough
alone...
or
allone...
i dance and sing..
as one without or without..
allone...
i am never alone though
as ONE...
with or with out one
other...or more...to
ALLONE
Wonderful words and illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI do agree - wonderful
Deleteoh, i so understand the urge to hide from it all, i go through phases of that. but then, curiosity always wins out and I find myself peeking back out at the world.
ReplyDeleteSweet! And happily paired with illustrations that enhance its meaning. Oddly enough, though your poem champions isolation, I feel I know you better from spending time with it.
ReplyDeletesome nice thoughts...however i wonder if isolation can lead to truth..i mean what truth?
ReplyDelete...nice images... :)
Be still and know that I am God
DeletePsalm 46:10
Truth can only be found in reflection prayer and isolation.
ugh... politics can drive me crazy... not enough to become a politician myself to change it - yet furious enough to try and make a difference in the small way that i can
ReplyDeletethe words and illustrations play perfectly off one another, cool take in your answers here that provide food for thought.
ReplyDeleteWow...a good post!
ReplyDeleteOftentimes I would like to disappear from what life has to 'offer', so yes, I can identify with this, definitely! I also love how you pinpoint that how you feel about people, things, being alone (or not) really does depend on your mood... Yes. Great work!
ReplyDeleteOftentimes I would like to disappear from what life has to 'offer', so yes, I can identify with this, definitely! I also love how you pinpoint that how you feel about people, things, being alone (or not) really does depend on your mood... Yes. Great work!
ReplyDeleteYour words grip the readers imagination with beautiful imagery.
ReplyDeleteI love this piece. :)
So you are a Mermaid !
ReplyDeleteHappy Jack thought you were special. You are loved by many. As you swim about reflect on the beauty of the coral and the wonder of the ocean. And when you do occasionally visit dry land remember you can always dive back into the glorious water any time you want.
Even in the darkness of winter beauty is there. It is a time of reflection before the hope that comes with Spring. Failing that, Jack understands vitamin supplements or sun lamps help.
Yeah, oftentimes, I envy starfish among coral, and would rather not up the periscope. Well told.
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I so relate to putting up the periscope, seeing what's going on, and retreating back to the deep. Me, too. Only sensible response!
ReplyDeletesometimes we come up and determine that while we cannot save everyone, sometimes we can help one or two.
ReplyDeleteI despair our country and it's leader's lack of caring and human kindness. Bill also appears to be under water.
ReplyDeleteA luck bunch at the end of your post.
your words wonderfully express the craziness we all swim in and the pics - loved them
ReplyDeleteMood swings is a privilege one has..one can choose to use it any time:))
ReplyDeleteThat feeling of being underwater, of escaping, is familiar. I grew up swimming...such a unique place to go. Reflective.
ReplyDeletePleasingly quzzical and refreshing - I'm glad I stopped by to read this... thanks With Best Wishes Scott www.scotthastie.com
ReplyDeleteThis post includes so much. The politics I don't understand....but I do understand the frustration of feeling that what one valued no longer exists, if it ever did. And as far as S.A.D., I think I am somewhat affected by this too. I feel so much more alive and optimistic in summer..with a bit of sun.
ReplyDeleteI like the honesty of your words, Rallentenda. You have shared many facets of yourself here.
ReplyDelete