Poem Swallowing Itself
Reading aloud—
people turn their heads
and step back, never
imagining what lies behind,
expecting neither snakes
nor bear traps nor other ambush.
Beginning where one ends, or
continuing a conversation
over decades, the truth
rises then subsides,
like soaring vultures or
cubes in scotch whiskey.
Measuring volume by
glance, the poem shivers,
opens its mouth wide.
O at the Edges 
I love the images you use to capture the experience
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Thanks very much.
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the soars like and eagle…sorry i couldn’t resist.
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damn…then…
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And devours. 😍
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Ha!
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Lots of great images to make this poem move. Lots of surprises, and I enjoy the play on words between “reading aloud” and “measuring volume”. Who’d have thought a poem could be personified?
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Thanks, Susanne. I’m pleased it worked for you.
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“Measuring volume by
glance, the poem shivers,
opens its mouth wide.”
And delivers, so well.
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Thanks, Ken. Poems have a way of taking over themselves…
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a poem as greedy as ourobourous. very jungian theme this time around Mr Okaji.
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Jung occasionally slips in without my permission.
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he has that effect on people.
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Pingback: #Poem #Swallowing #Itself – Engineer Marine Skipper
Reblogged with love
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Thanks for reblogging!
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I very much love your work
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You are very kind. Thank you.
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Well, at least we know poetry has good taste.
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Ha! You are so right ,
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Truth always rises, beautiful poem Robert:)
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We certainly hope so.
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The zero lurking again 🙂 I can almost smell the Scotch.
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It just refuses to go away.
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The ourobourous idea floating behind your words hints at the act of division of word and drink is Creation (opposites divided) finally re-united in the Divine… supposedly.
Word and drink reunited in your stomach and mind brings forth yet more words; you are the crucible in which the liquid and the concept pool and consolidate!
Personally, I think there is nothing better for poesy than a one dollar notebook and a few ounces of 10 year old cask strength Laphroaig!
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I think you are correct, Daniel. A little Laphroaig could only help.
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Laphroaig’s flavour is like rubbing alcohol mixed with peat in a half full cigar ashtray… but in a really surprisingly delicious way!! It is a VERY acquired taste, but once you are a fan, it changes your life forever and you become an Artist!
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In the past decade or so I have grown enthusiastic about acquired tastes. The bitter, the harsh, the caustic – all seem much more attractive to me now. The world continues unfolding in front of me. Funny how that is.
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Deserves a place on RO’s Greatest Hits album. –Sorry, I meant double album. Maybe even boxed set CD collection with extensive liner notes? It rocks, at any rate. Ice cubes and vultures will pretty much float together in my mind for awhile, now.
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Thanks, Jeff. It’s more likely to be an 8-track tape. :). I’m so pleased to have slipped ice cubes and vultures into your thoughts. Insidious poetry!
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“cubes in scotch whiskey” pulled me in.
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The inexorable melting…
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