The BlueIris Semi-Nightly Poetry Break, 5/1/09

[BlueIris]

"Couple from Hell #11"

You walk out in the morning
and the sky is broad and blue
and across the pathway threads of silk
glint in the sun at the end of each a spider
still wet from the egg spins out a dragline
and sails off into the breeze
The air is so bright and busy
your whole body feels it
a puppet weightless on its wires
and you let it guide you down a path
you've never taken along the river
the little harbor at its mouth
where three blue boats are moored
at a dock cushioned with old tires
where the only sound is the deep bass
drumming of waves on wood

Here is a small café
opening for breakfast
a zinc counter catching the light
at every angle in bright rings of glitter
A cup of black coffee is placed before you
brimming with rainbow-colored foam
a packet of sugar a pat of butter
a split roll of bread
scored and toasted and still warm
The butter is just soft enough to spread
the coffee hot and sugared to perfect sweetness
the bread grilled to the palest brown
crisp but not quite dry
You tear it neatly into pieces
eat them slowly when you finish
you are exactly full

Here are bread butter and coffee
Here you are your own body
eating and drinking what you are given
as one day you in turn will be devoured
and that is all You were never the lord
of a lightless kingdom any more
than she has ever been its queen
and the world you talked each other into prison
suddenly seems to be made of glass
and your eyes see clear to the horizon
and you feel the molecules of air
part like a curtain as if to let you pass

~Craig Arnold

[BlueIris]

1. As some of you probably know, this poet, a University of Wyoming prof, is missing.

Those of you who vibe might want to vibe his way.

[ThomCat]

2. Wow. That certainly puts a serious spin on this poem.

:(

I hope he's okay. That must really have been a seriously bad relationship. :(

This poem is so beautiful, and so self-aware. You can feel it when you read it that it's all hard-won truths, and stuff you would hate to have to face and know about your own life. It's stuff that would sneak up on you, soft and that spider silk and then be hard to break away from.

It makes you think he knows enough to walk away. But if someone else knows that too, could he have been prevented from walking away? The relationship that could inspire this poem might be bad enough to lead to something bad happening...

I hope he's okay. If news comes out either way at some point and you see it, I hope you'll re-post this poem and share the news. Now I'll want to know. :hug:

[BlueIris]

3. ThomCat, please start writing poetry.

If you don't already.

[ThomCat]

4. I am.

I'm writing songs, but songs are poetry too. :)

[BlueIris]

9. Exxxxcellent. nt

[RetroLounge]

5. I hope he's still alive...

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-missing-poet,0,6914018.story

RL

[Chorophyll]

6. Wow.

This is very, very good. I'm going to read Retro's Newsday link now. :(

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My dear BlueIris!

Wow, how beautiful, how poignant...

Esp. in light of the news...

I really love the last two lines especially:

and you feel the molecules of air
part like a curtain as if to let you pass

Thank you, and please do update us...


:hug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. Sublime -

Truly, an elegant poem.
Please keep us updated on the situation
and
Vibes to Craig where ever he may be.