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Second Sight


Earth spins, miasmic

in watery eye

and fluming breath;

cold etching into lines

of tears that sting

my icy cheeks,

blushed with wintry hoare.

 

Steps press their marks

on a virgin floor,

and state my purpose

to arrive, but where?

There is scarce sense

to know....or care.


Only sunlight

washing in its flood

of copper-yellow

shafted beams,

the pit my worries

held in darkened,

gray-capped shadows,

clouding their intent.

 

My heavy carcass

dragging useless thoughts

into their closed,

familiar coffin,

that’s buried days

with sucking earth

swallowed by

nailed down,

rooted years.


But now, disembodied, 

it drifts, forgotten,

in an eddied stream,

flowing with its tones

and hues of vibrant light

that dance their naked

feet upon my grave.

 

Up where no earth

remembers when

I laughed, or cried,

or slept or dreamed.

Floating in clear air,

immersed, complete,

with second sight

this morning’s soul

imbues with light.


Up with every path

and twist I take,

until my weary steps

no longer trace

their worn intention

with deceit….

and the world's 

grown honest

under these bare,

impressioned feet. 

 

— professor, Nov 28, 2009

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: China/Sichuan/Chengdu, CHN

Favorite Poets: Yeats, Elliot, Auden, Keats, Shelley, Byron

More from this author

Critiques

Seren

Seren

16 years 6 months ago

Dearest Big Bruv

I was surprised and a little awed of this one ... its a remarkable write ... what can I say ... thats not been said before? ill have to think on that one lol (huggles) and love Lil Sis
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

This is one JayC for moments of reflection

when suddenly all becomes clear, even if only briefly, and the incredible feelings of weightlessness and calm when you finally feel your Universe rolled into that proverbial little ball lol. Love and Hugs Keith
Kailashana

Kailashana

16 years 6 months ago

Freedom from being comes at

Freedom from being comes at the most unexpected of times. It's a gift to be able to put it into words. ~A "...when it agrees with reason and it will benefit one and all, then accept it and live by it." ~ Buddha
P

poewriter58

16 years 6 months ago

Keith

I never find fault with or in your words. This is just stunning. What more can I say Be well Chrys
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Thanks Chrys

I thought this one had passed most people by lol. May be not such a popular kind of poem on Neopoet. Good to see the two of you together in your pic. Hope you had a relaxing Thanksgiving.....I saw a few pics on Jess's Facebook. with my best wishes Keith
AZ

anasta zia

16 years 6 months ago

Greetings professor,

I read your poem with interest. There seemed to be a wonderful poem stiffled by extraneous wording. Foregive my meddling but I went through it and here is the result: Earth spins, in watery eye and fluming breath; cold etches into lines that sting my icy cheeks. Steps press upon a virgin floor, and state my purpose to arrive. But where? There is scarce sense to care. Only sunlight washing copper-yellow, pit my worries held in shadow, muting their intent. My carcass drags useless thoughts into familiar places, buried days, with sucking earth swallowed by nailed down, years. Now, disembodied, it drifts, forgotten, flowing with its tones and hues of scathing light dancing naked feet upon my grave. No earth remembers when I laughed, or cried, or slept or dreamed. Floating in clear air, complete, with second sight this morning light. With every path I take, my steps no longer trace their worn intention with deceit. The world’s grown honest beneath these trespass feet. I am thankful for your creative efforts. I suggest that you choose your words more carefully, stop using words that are used commonly in poetry, start reading other poets in the greater world if you don't already do so and be wary of redundancies which were the most significant editing requirement for this poem. There are a number of profound collections of words in your poem. These profound phrases should be the core of the poem after editing. With respect, Olya
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Thanks for your suggestions Olya

I will give them some thought although I dont entirely accept your comments about extensive redundancy and in your edited version you have completely changed my meaning in several places as a result of your edit. I feel there is somewhat more behind my words than you have interpreted in this particular poem. The other thing that is very much changed by your version is its slow, inexorable flow, and that for me is a key part of this poem. There is indeed a current trend towards highly economical and rather stocatto poetry and it can be very effective I agree, although it is by no means the only way to write and I confess unashamedly to being of the more classical Romantic tradition since working with other poets in my youth and subsequently being influenced by my time studying English Literature before I finally switched to the dark side and Science. Thanks for such a thoughfull review however, something that is all too rare on this site. with my best wishes Keith
Candlewitch

Candlewitch

16 years 6 months ago

hello

Sweet Keith, To be completely honest, I was slightly baffled by this piece. It seems to me about having lived a life not worth remembering, but it changes tone at the last verse. I love the language and terms that you used. Love, Cat
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Sweet Cat

in its simplest sense this is a poem about an uplifting experience while walking across a frost covered landscape. But yes there are complex thoughts about the past woven into the experience and each component of each extended image has meaning. Hopefully it is a poem that can evoke different thoughts and interpretations from a reader with each new reading lol. Love Keith
C

cricket

16 years 6 months ago

interesting poem

always enjoy the way your poetry tells a story , and brings in the reader. The word usage is something I like to see in poems, far better reading than the usuall poems seen . But you have always had a way with words. me, I'm still working on that . in any case , when ones thoughts become clear and a weight seems lifted if only for a brief moment in time what a serene feeling one has.. BrownEyesBlue
professor

professor

16 years 6 months ago

Thanks Cricket

I know very well how much you like word weaving in poetry lol. I hope reading this was an uplifting experience for you too. Keith
C

cricket

16 years 5 months ago

uplifting yes

I always have an array of feelings and emotions when readiing your poetry, whether sad or happy or anything else. your poetry is always a pleasure to read and an enjoyable experience . Hope to read more soon. BrownEyesBlue