Missing in action, marked
by defective compass -
absent medications
dissolve his directions.
Magnetic arrow points
to twisted perceptions
Blindly navigating,
hurricane confusion,
he's high on delusion,
thinks his conscience intact.
Absence of his conscience
invincibility,
freedom - insanity.
Medications reveal
limit of directions,
compass calibrations,
labored navigation,
altering the compass
consciously
Invincible
Chemical Abandon
Special thanks to Ashok Karra and Sharon Warden for all their help with the poem!
This poem had me thinking of my days at sea school. We had to learn to Box the Compass. Standing in front of a binnacle we would rattle off all 32 points in a clockwise direction.
ReplyDeleteI discovered something else about this expression on my first trip to sea. When the ships rudder broke mid-ocean, causing us to drift, I asked the bosun what was happening, he replied, 'We're boxing the compass, boy.'
'i think i prefer a kompass with a k
i think it should always be that way.'
Good luck with the re-calibrations.
from 51-30 N 0-17 E
x
Klick-Kat's kompass
ReplyDeletegives koordinates that
coordinate
past and present
from 30-05 N 95-29 W
;]
[my brother is...]
boxing the compass-
circus clown laughter
forceful interjection
carnival ride tail-spin
contrives pious directions
whirlwind courses that
assert arrogation of women
boxing arena in
big top coordinates given
Thanks Klick-Kat for your inspiring seafarer's story! :D
I hope things 're improving. I'll email you 't the weekend.
ReplyDeleteBTW th'nks for the poems 'nd your comments on my flickr p'ge. They 're re'lly 'ppreci'ted.
Sorry for 'll the missing 's. I think th't I h've ' biscuit crumb stuck underne'th th't key.
x P'ul.
WOW! Another powerful and upsetting poem, strong images! The compass is a good image. I mean poetic images, but the artwork is lovely and strong too!
ReplyDeleteI am way behind on my email/commenting etc--we've been busy away from home and the internet.
Blindly navigating!
ReplyDeleteThe second image looks thorny and dangerous!
How is it going now, with your brother? You? Your Dad?
ReplyDeleteBoy isn't that true about crying when you don';t get enough sleep--I hope things are better for you! I also tend to feel constantly overwhelmed when I don't get enough sleep! Lack of sleep exacerbates pain. I hope you get things worked out with your Mom and your brother and YOURSELF!
ReplyDeleteSo much to contend with.
I miss your art--but don't let that be one more pressure on you!
ReplyDeleteThat first image--WOW! Gets me every time.
ReplyDeleteJust checking in.
Chemical components clash and crash and corrode, but love and peaceful jurisdiction (saying what you feel is true) pays the fevered brain this wonderful compliment:
ReplyDeleteYou have Reason: reason for being, reason for feeling how you feel, reason for doing what you've done, and those reasons may not shake mountains but they DO shape the inner worlds which cause us tears---tears of joy and pain and also of fear...