A shrewd and achingly: A shrewd and achingly accurate commentary on too many peoples' sorry excuse for a life.
As always, you hit the mark with stunning acrobatics of language and your own signature wit. The concept of vapid entertainment being a panacea and our distractions being a type of fast food that takes the place of inner nourishment is inspired. You invite the reader to step out of the brain-numbing, easy anesthesia of modern "cure all"s and imagine, create . . . live!
Brilliant work.
The inadequacy of my words in: The inadequacy of my words in the presence of this poem is embarrassing to me. And though you always understand what I mean to say, even if I am not always successful in saying it, I fear that others who are less understanding or tolerant will take my remarks as either self-serving or overly obsequious.
My Ad Astra series began, and continues to exist, because of your encouragement, your humane compassion, and the example you set (as both a Human Being and a Poet) on Postpoems. You are not only one of the supreme pillars of this community, you are also a Tower of spiritual illumination to which the Alexandrian lighthouse would be only a trite metaphor. I can still remember the thrill I experienced, three years ago, when I first read Gates Of Orion, just three days before I was discharged from the hospital; and then, after that, Council Of Stars. And I realized that everything I had learned about reading Poetry (learned, of course, by a study of Poets deceased well before I approached their words) was demonstrated and exemplified by you, the supremest of Living Poets.
And, in choosing to post this poem at this time, you have brought me the answer to an unspoken prayer, at precisely the time I needed that answer. For that, I thank the Lord and I thank you.
Though it may be to your: Though it may be to your disappointment, I do hope that far more people than not have their mental and emotional guns aimed at that ash pile and on the ready, because I do anticipate a pheonix attempting to arise at some point.
You're welcome - thoroughly: You're welcome - thoroughly enjoyed poem, and exchange of thoughts thereafter.
Per both your poem and your remarks on validation, being in the field of horticulture, it comes to my mind that we are in a transformation from being cacti to celery: from only needing the occasional watering of external validation to a constant thirst.
Oh that is an intoxicating: Oh that is an intoxicating thought process John! Where anything and everything must be publicly celebrated in the western society's we do lose that sense of self validation and equilibrium, it all has to come from outside of us. Your review and response is truly appreciated and always welcome. /Rik.
So many monumental lines: So many monumental lines thunder in this sublime journey. The emotion is palpable, and the vehicle for that emotion is a clean, natural, startling work of art. I'm loving how you animated leaves and reminded us of unseen wonders in the "crowded soil" and showed us your sorrow when "the face of the sky" turned "grey" upon touching the ground.
An astonishing expression.
I'm completely spellbound by: I'm completely spellbound by this intricate yet enormous stream of thought. Your brilliant use of white space, luminous voice and thought-provoking introspection on existence itself makes this extraordinary. The poem is spacious as it tunnels deep. I'm so glad I found you! I'll certainly be back.
Wow. : Astonished by this in particular...
"Now in the unendurable
embrace of beauty—
icy purity—
I practice the fine
art of forgetting,
yet somehow you're
still the wind
chiming without
a voice,
and I still carry around
this collapsable heart,
still adore the idea
of love's giddy hazard,
while knowing
joy was never something
outside myself."
I've been on this site many years. I am ecstatic to have stumbled upon your writing and can't wait to endure more.
Another well crafted poem,: Another well crafted poem, sir. When consumption comes so easy (a la carte, indeed), creative inspiration can easily be displaced by distraction. The 'private peace' has gone from a right of human passage to a lost art for much of society. Lots of great, on point lines here. Fine work encased around observations that are much appreciated by this reader.
If it's any consolation to: If it's any consolation to you, life is better for LGBTQ+ persons than it has been for almost the entirety of human history - at least in the western world (I can't claim up or down for most elsewhere, don't know enough). When I was a kid, it was still relatively risky to step out into the world for friends who merely appeared to others to be gay (I imagine you've seen more and worse of this than I have, in your life). That, for the most part, has changed. It could be better yet - and I hope it will be, right along with you. But, also, every grouping of people, and I mean every single group, needs to learn how to treat each other better. At this point, as far as I can see, we spend too much time infighting between identity groups and dragging each other down, back and forth, while the smallest group - the ruling class - gets richer and more powerful. We get played against one another, and the greatest protest we have yet to successfully make is to stand together against it. All the best to you, you write beautifully, as always.
The most knowledgeable people: The most knowledgeable people in the world reasonably know less than 1% of all there is to know. "Expert" is a relative term. In the eyes of the universe, the wisest men are 3 year olds, at best. Humility often gets lost behind many things, including certificates and books that have it all neatly laid out. "The truth" changes all the time, in one way or another, and then another. If we're willing to listen and be open-minded, we will be caught off guard and misled less, and - at least as valuably - learn more.
Full of imagery and lines to love!: Beautiful and wise, enriching. My favorite lines: "an idea far-flung/gets into your/morality"
Instantly a favorite of this reader, on the whole. : )
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