May 6, 2013
-
Star Ice
He listens to the undulating ice
Diamonded by a solemnity of stars
It cleaves last summer's mackerel sea
It creeps through kelp-stilled glittering shoal
It cracks with music scratched on glacial bars
But for this sound no sound is heard
No startled bird no diesel growl - A penetrating fright
Crawls through ear-holes into pale veins
Buried just under his scalp to flick those sensors birthed
Within this billion-year cauldron now so white
It is here dimension ceases to exist
It is here under this pitiless gaze of celestial eyes
Where terror grips an anchorless flesh
Where ululations sound remorselessly unheard except by him
To lavalize the mind's malaise
Carefully he picks his way across the glistening ledge
His shattered knees barely supportive of his form
Perceptiveness lost to this insensate state
Struck dumb - Incredulous - Why is he here?
What has coerced and driven him to this destructive storm
Of carrion thought? - Of bitter and humiliating rage?
Bound now to harsh and unforgiving blips of light
With no consideration of his wants and needs
He is uncounted - Baffled - Lost inside this stricken dome
Blinded by frozen firmament that sears bituminous night
Comments (4)
What a phenomenal tribute to the wonders of nature that instill fear in the hearts of strong men! I love it Mr. Manos. The third stanza is gripping and tells it all.
I had no problem viewing this. I hope there will be more xangans who will come and read this beautiful reflection of the pensive mind.
Having read “Wallabout” before this one, I was struck by this poem’s opposite scenario. Without walls, or boundaries we become fearful and lost. I am not sure what you had in mind here, but for me the shattered knees conjured one image of an elder who can’t keep up and is left behind to die. What a beautifully cruel way to go. Interesting how even the sound of a diesel can be comforting and seem natural. “Carrion thought,” is he the hunter or the hunted? ----Peter, I don’t know why I don’t get notices of your posts in my email as I do others followed.
@ElaineWestheimer - Thank you for the read... I am now 87 but I spent some time alone a few years ago at our summer home on an island off the coast of Maine... I wrote this during those frozen moonless February nights... Lobster fishing over months past and absolutely no sign of human life for miles in any direction... I wish every human could experience moments such as this... I have never been so frightened in my life... I think you'll understand...
The solitude must have been quite an experience. Maine is a place I hope to visit some day, though, city girl that I am, I will probably head to Portland. Also thanks for reading my latest, and for adding “ideographic” to my vocabulary.
--Best to you, Elaine
Comments are closed.