(notes on a brasilian mythology)
As if a Greek god
he sees himself
on a chariot drawn
by four steeds.
But these horses are
evidence of forgotten
or unknown principles.
And while he chews
safron,the cyclamen
are in full bloom.
What is that moment that falls between
departure and nostalgia; that rarified thought
of dreamlike attention?
Does one who lacks this nuance of thought
have any intimacy with life?
he laid three eggs
one for his mother
another for his lover
and the last for close family and friends -
naked poverty bringing joy
on hot bricks, hunger and fair weather
He walked in silence
giving accidental significance
to his features.
Stripped of all meaning, his face
disappeared into the darkness.
(as he seems to contemplate
a self-conscious glow pervades}
The chisel edge is hard
and his voice rises on stilts
from bushes covering
a soft-centered creature
climbing a grassy staircase
ultimately featureless
and flea-tormented.
- he walks back and forth
through others' lives, and
family supports his every whim
- all seems to surrender to him
except the tireless cicada
"an impulse that comes when one is
under too much stress and one turns
against those one loves the most - a
very murderous action"
- Louise Bourgeois
"Oh dear, you've been gone so long!"
the important professional with
his pastoral vocabulary,
and the gentle elephant with
good good humor showing,
danced about and swallowed my wine,
as I roared off again along a dusty road
propellers on my cap revolving
ever ever so fast!
twelve stories high
their bodies imposing upon others
mister professional and his smiling elephant
slide through life still attached
to nipples of birthing
as difficult and dangerous a time as any
and... I look away, to my
golden afternoon in a deck-chair
today mister professional and
his smiling elephant went to the beach
and had a curious ebbing experience
a certain mister gorgeous
who studied rhetoric at Rhodes
complimented their chastity
and fine manners
this made them dream of
cutting their beards and
replacing their black stove-pipe
hats with something more pleasing
for everyone’s picture
no one knows, but maybe
it’s time for a trip!
but is it really?
no one knows…
Mister is very very quiet
carrying food to and from
and examining his possessions
jettisoned from prevailing reality
but where is the truth?
no one knows…
(except perhaps the dog)
smiling elephant follows and follows
as he looks to be sweet
a voice to kiss with, and a
doorway-smile hiding a gun
leading to bread crumbs on the floor
here I offer an intellectual compromise
with powdered milk
© David Ronce 2014
As if a Greek god
he sees himself
on a chariot drawn
by four steeds.
But these horses are
evidence of forgotten
or unknown principles.
And while he chews
safron,the cyclamen
are in full bloom.
What is that moment that falls between
departure and nostalgia; that rarified thought
of dreamlike attention?
Does one who lacks this nuance of thought
have any intimacy with life?
he laid three eggs
one for his mother
another for his lover
and the last for close family and friends -
naked poverty bringing joy
on hot bricks, hunger and fair weather
He walked in silence
giving accidental significance
to his features.
Stripped of all meaning, his face
disappeared into the darkness.
(as he seems to contemplate
a self-conscious glow pervades}
The chisel edge is hard
and his voice rises on stilts
from bushes covering
a soft-centered creature
climbing a grassy staircase
ultimately featureless
and flea-tormented.
- he walks back and forth
through others' lives, and
family supports his every whim
- all seems to surrender to him
except the tireless cicada
"an impulse that comes when one is
under too much stress and one turns
against those one loves the most - a
very murderous action"
- Louise Bourgeois
"Oh dear, you've been gone so long!"
the important professional with
his pastoral vocabulary,
and the gentle elephant with
good good humor showing,
danced about and swallowed my wine,
as I roared off again along a dusty road
propellers on my cap revolving
ever ever so fast!
twelve stories high
their bodies imposing upon others
mister professional and his smiling elephant
slide through life still attached
to nipples of birthing
as difficult and dangerous a time as any
and... I look away, to my
golden afternoon in a deck-chair
today mister professional and
his smiling elephant went to the beach
and had a curious ebbing experience
a certain mister gorgeous
who studied rhetoric at Rhodes
complimented their chastity
and fine manners
this made them dream of
cutting their beards and
replacing their black stove-pipe
hats with something more pleasing
for everyone’s picture
no one knows, but maybe
it’s time for a trip!
but is it really?
no one knows…
Mister is very very quiet
carrying food to and from
and examining his possessions
jettisoned from prevailing reality
but where is the truth?
no one knows…
(except perhaps the dog)
smiling elephant follows and follows
as he looks to be sweet
a voice to kiss with, and a
doorway-smile hiding a gun
leading to bread crumbs on the floor
here I offer an intellectual compromise
with powdered milk
© David Ronce 2014
all works herein © copyright David Ronce 2009 - 2015
