Twenty-Two Early Poems - 7. fused

Hi AC! Okay, I understand my own poems but admit I sometimes have difficulty with other peoples. But I think of poems like a painting. The artist painted it with a meaning for himself and leaves interpretation to the viewer. So based on that, I feel much frustration, emotional pain and frustration in this grouping but there is also renewal and hope.
19. This poem could be from any war or ‘police’ action. Your words scream at it’s futility and at men killing each other in God’s name. How self-righteous and egotistical man is thinking he knows his God’s mind.
20. What is life and is this all there is? Truly, when we cut away all that makes up our lives, yes, that is all there is. I am thankful however there is more that occupies us, more beauty to share, souls to reach out to and love.
20a. Hmmm kinda flummoxed at this one. I’ve never been able to teach my tea infused water much
21. Hate hope. I guess to hate hope you cannot have any. Which is sad, but I understand it. Sometimes the world seems bereft of it. And rather than finding hope within yourself many do turn to religion however I think the reference to call the Pope is rather tongue-in-cheek.
22. Speaks to me of loss, of death maybe not physical but of the spirit. He’s afraid, especially of aloneness and the world under those conditions. But somehow his spirit is renewed.

I'll only comment on poem 19. It brings to mind, for me, the paranoia of the cold war I lived through. Yet the date would indicate the beginning of Kuwait. The essence was the ridiculousness of war. Man can only know man through acceptance and co-existence. Much frustration here. Cheers... Gary.

March 24th ,1987. I researched the date, but didn't find anything out of the ordinary happened that day. But maybe it is harrowing, that reports about war and people killing each other isn't considered "anything out of the ordinary" anymore. So it could be any date ? (no.19).

Bleak if life is reduced to the components mentioned in poem no. 20. Whether naked or clothed, alone or befriended, isn't what happens between entering and leaving what is most important ?

No. 20a was difficult for me to understand. What I make of it is, that even when an effort may seem hopeless, try anyway.

A vision on hope (no. 21) that is much too pessimistic for me. If in the mindset of the poet, though, I would choose the rope over the Pope.

Alas, the last one. On first reading a seasonal poem where the need for sunshine is longed for in the cold season. But the dedication makes me wonder if there's more to it, that will stay between the poet and his friend.

According to the title, with no. 22 the early poems are concluded. Thanks, AC, for sharing them. It has been a pleasurable experience for me and -judging by the amount of reviews- for many others.

On 10/09/2015 07:12 AM, Mikiesboy said:

Hi AC! Okay, I understand my own poems but admit I sometimes have difficulty with other peoples. But I think of poems like a painting. The artist painted it with a meaning for himself and leaves interpretation to the viewer. So based on that, I feel much frustration, emotional pain and frustration in this grouping but there is also renewal and hope.

19. This poem could be from any war or ‘police’ action. Your words scream at it’s futility and at men killing each other in God’s name. How self-righteous and egotistical man is thinking he knows his God’s mind.

20. What is life and is this all there is? Truly, when we cut away all that makes up our lives, yes, that is all there is. I am thankful however there is more that occupies us, more beauty to share, souls to reach out to and love.

20a. Hmmm kinda flummoxed at this one. I’ve never been able to teach my tea infused water much

21. Hate hope. I guess to hate hope you cannot have any. Which is sad, but I understand it. Sometimes the world seems bereft of it. And rather than finding hope within yourself many do turn to religion however I think the reference to call the Pope is rather tongue-in-cheek.

22. Speaks to me of loss, of death maybe not physical but of the spirit. He’s afraid, especially of aloneness and the world under those conditions. But somehow his spirit is renewed.

First of all… Wow, Tim! For someone who told me rather recently that leaving reviews scared the stuffing out of you, you have come into your own! I love it; what a great review.

With your concept that a poem is like a painting, I couldn't agree more. I try my darndest not to ever tell a person what they should read into my work. It's up to them, and a personal relationship is a private affair, imo.

I love and appreciate all of your comments on the individual poems. Your take on No. 22 is particularly poignant and touching.

Thank you for such an amazing and heartfelt review.

On 10/09/2015 01:15 PM, Headstall said:

I'll only comment on poem 19. It brings to mind, for me, the paranoia of the cold war I lived through. Yet the date would indicate the beginning of Kuwait. The essence was the ridiculousness of war. Man can only know man through acceptance and co-existence. Much frustration here. Cheers... Gary.

Thank you, Gary. A lot of people younger than us cannot fathom the depths of anxiety the cold war put us through. I like your read on the poem, and truly appreciate your review and support.

Thanks again!

On 10/10/2015 05:24 AM, J.HunterDunn said:

March 24th ,1987. I researched the date, but didn't find anything out of the ordinary happened that day. But maybe it is harrowing, that reports about war and people killing each other isn't considered "anything out of the ordinary" anymore. So it could be any date ? (no.19).

 

Bleak if life is reduced to the components mentioned in poem no. 20. Whether naked or clothed, alone or befriended, isn't what happens between entering and leaving what is most important ?

 

No. 20a was difficult for me to understand. What I make of it is, that even when an effort may seem hopeless, try anyway.

 

A vision on hope (no. 21) that is much too pessimistic for me. If in the mindset of the poet, though, I would choose the rope over the Pope.

 

Alas, the last one. On first reading a seasonal poem where the need for sunshine is longed for in the cold season. But the dedication makes me wonder if there's more to it, that will stay between the poet and his friend.

 

According to the title, with no. 22 the early poems are concluded. Thanks, AC, for sharing them. It has been a pleasurable experience for me and -judging by the amount of reviews- for many others.

Thank you, Peter, for such a thoughtful review. Needless to say, the date was quite a long time ago. I have vague memories of the continuing Palestinian and Israeli conflict, but wondered about the 'Nazi star' reference. So, I looked at the date too. I found that one of the first, and thusly, one of the most historic ACT UP! demonstrations occurred on that date.

http://www.actupny.org/documents/1stFlyer.html

I'm fascinated and horrified to see the New York Time's dismissive use of the H-word in '87, insinuating that only Gay men cared about fair and equitable treatment with the what-was-already the widespread need for HIV education and medication. If that was not bad enough, I checked the newspaper's actual summaries for what they consider (now, in 2015) to have been newsworthy for that date. Neither the summary for the 24th or the 25th has jack to say about ACT UP!'s seminal moment in changing this country. And folks still deny LGBT issues are treated without bias…? BS.

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/24/nyregion/news-summary-tuesday-march-24-1987.html

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/25/nyregion/news-summary-wednesday-march-25-1987.html

Anyway – *comes down from my soapbox* – I like your interpretations of all the poems, and particularly of No. 20a. And I appreciate your efforts, dear friend, to put them all here for me to see. I cherish feedback, and you have been truly generous with my early poetic efforts.

Thanks again!