I

Cross, out-of-sorts, at odds, always in want
of a better word: a poet of sorts
I stand at the crossroads
of time & purpose.

Wondering: if the road I’ve taken is less
traveled or more? Watching: the top
of heads spin 360 degrees
from my ivory tower,

40 feet above is enough. Too much reality
is not good for me: I’m fussy.
I don’t like to get
my feet dirty.

Head planted firmly in the clouds,
I take great strides across
the seven seas,
cross

deserts; climb peaks. Sometimes I’m seen
millions of light years away:
I straddle both
worlds.

Clearly I’ve businesses of my own to attend.
Not that I ever fail to address
the neglects, of the one
I’m on.

Philosopher at large, sage, devil, demi-
god, I play many parts:
Ophelia to your
Hamlet.

I strike the right stance - poised
between here to some-
where not here
I soar

above the real, inching past
fact, with a light tap -
my wings tend
to crumble:

I land on the surreal.

II

But read on friends what did you expect,
a geometrical theorem –
in the end a
Q.E.D.?

I’m a poet & I know it - I’m actually quoting
myself! If prayers don’t lead
you to that heavenly
abode

rest assured physics will – quote unquote.
In the heat of creativity
it gets hot
as hell

& memory tends to play a truant mistress.
O yes – expectations - that feared
& dreaded
word.

At all times I am expected to be afflicted
in the brain - touched
with a strange
sense

of ironic humor, making the functioning
of the feverish-brain-full of-nervous-
energy: I’m always
hyper.

Four times four removed from logic & reason
equals a poet full of grit and
determination. I’m good
with numbers.

Playing with infinite zeros at the tip of my fingers,
I churn out verse day-in-night-out
without looking left
or right,

but dead centre: my third eye always open,
shrewdly fixed & constant
as the north star
pointing -

steadfastly at intimations of immortality.

12 Responses to “A Poet of Sorts”

1. clematis Says:
   September 15th, 2009 at 6:00 am

   just a friendly dig at yours truly: my poetic self!
   if i can’t laugh at myself i’m sunk eternal!

2. memoona Says:
   September 15th, 2009 at 6:42 am

   It’s a beautiful poem and I loved it.

3. yann rolland Says:
   September 15th, 2009 at 10:53 am

   hello Clematis, all the questionnings in the mind of the poet, his temptations, you depict yourself with extrem art, with beauty and accuracy, I like your poem, your inside portrait and the goal of the poet which looks like immortality….Whatever I understood the quality of the poem belongs to its style too, the pleasure I had to follow your thoughts and the talent you put in.. ..

   Thanks for the grand poem.

   yann

4. littlebeknown Says:
   September 15th, 2009 at 11:11 am

   A spectacular ride down the page — full of images and good lines — at least you didn’t get thee to a nunnery, I guess. It’s interesting to step out of ourselves and look back to see ourselves — not as others see us, but as we would see ourselves if we could actually do that kind of stepping — you say “a friendly dig at yours truly” but I saw myself — but I always thought of myself as Horatio — or Rosencrantz or Guildenstern — well someone in there. Thanks for the poem. Jerry

5. oxygon Says:
   September 15th, 2009 at 11:16 am

   Awesome, clematis! a poem of the poetic psyche of the poet herself, that begins with wry understatement—of sorts, ha! —intimations of immortality, Wordsworth, give quarter, stand by the wayside, and watch the unfolding of a grand continuity of this eternal art! This is simply magnificent, clematis, a breathtaking sweep across seas and continents, to the scaling of mountains, and then to stand between worlds across the cosmic expanse! You are a poet, not a stroke of hubris as you allude to the great Frost—ah, those crossroads in the synapses, and the firing of the enigmatic neurons that make for consciousness of self—oh, mysteries of the mind of the poet, you have gathered the cloth, and sewed the seams: a quilt-work, each patch an identity—I see bits and pieces of myself!—forgive my “rational” exuberance, I am a boy in a candy shop of words, and haven’t the money to buy, so I must steal!

   Just a friendly dig? Oh, your modesty—let it melt like an edifice of ice in the sunlight of your genius; methinks the Lady doth underestimate too much!

   I am impressed, excited, inspired; what a wonder to rise to, on a Monday of modest expectations, only to take in the refreshment of greatness! The reading is an adventure, clematis, and I will let my mind rest for a moment, and lower my feet once again to good ole terra firma! Congratulations on a marvelous poetic work!

   art

6. clematis Says:
   September 16th, 2009 at 4:07 am

   thanks memoona - glad you enjoyed!

   thanks yann - for your unique persepective! the questions in the mind of the poet & his temptations! exactly! we poets are always lead into all kinds of strange & beautiful temptations - & may god lead us into more - that’s what we should pray for - lead us into temptations - the more the merrier! what is a poet without temptations? really enjoyed your comments! & the inner goal of the poet - surely immortality! & why not? i thank you humbly for the high praise!

7. clematis Says:
   September 16th, 2009 at 4:27 am

   thanks jerry - your appreciation means a lot & i’m thrilled!

   I did escape the nunnery - thank god! hamlet would have liked us all there! its funny - i wrote a poem about it called - ’scent of a man’ all about hamlet & such-like men - flattering to the species - quoting lines from the play - without putting them in quotes - for the simple reason no one could mistake them as mine - an experimental piece - must dig out the old thing & post it - it even has the famous quote: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy! have you read the play Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead by Tom Stoppard? quite brilliant.

   i’m happy it found some kind of an echo in you!

8. clematis Says:
   September 16th, 2009 at 4:39 am

   I humbly thank you art - from the bottom of my heart! you always make me fly! real high!!

   as usual your brilliant comments & analysis far surpasses the poem - in style, form, expression - everything! with its ‘magnificent breathtaking sweep’ - i can only quote back - your own words - i’m really speechless!

   thanks really - for taking the time for such detailed analysis - i’m really thrilled to bits that it could solicit your boyish exuberance!!
   that is very very gratifying for me! indeed the very best part! no need to steal - consider them as gifts!

   & the very fact that you guys find an identification is candy enough for me!!

9. Ida Werrett Says:
   September 25th, 2009 at 12:25 am

   i can’t for the life of me figure out how I missed this amazing poem, Clematis, maybe because I have to wade through so much junk to get to enjoy the poetry. It takes a special person to have such wonderful insight about themselves. i really like this …”In the heat of creativity it gets hot as hell.” Felt the heat a few times myself.
   Ida

10. clematis Says:
    October 5th, 2009 at 3:38 am

    thanks ida - i always look forward to your precise incisive comments that cuts right into the heart of the matter! hot matter i should say - all creativity having heat at its source!

    glad you’ve felt the same - no heat no gain!

11. Roy Conant Says:
    October 13th, 2009 at 1:50 am

    I missed this when it was posted and just discovered it now — but, it will have to wait for a few days when I am on the road again with a few moments to call my own…. I will get back to it!

12. Roy Conant Says:
    October 23rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm

    Clematis — Am I the only person missing your incisive wit and razor rapier here? Where in the hell are you?!!

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