the nurses deferred
to masquerade doctors in balloon pants
who told them
go to the underwater pharmacy
--a nickel a snorkel--
and dispense tobacco to the terminals
because
rules are restrictive
useless
barbaric
and they gave these instructions via telegram stop
from the big band ballroom stop
where the rhumba and the mambo
never stop
stop
and they used the bandmaster's baton
to perform minor surgery
on this poem.
In that town, at that time, the women never cut their hair
because of sorrow,
and the river's edge, and the need to weep
while covering their faces with their hair like bent willows.
In the heavy hour, in the day of the pueblo mission,
a mockingbird perched in the bell tower was singing,
"Come to the river's edge, to the place of no explanation.
Let down your hair as the boatmen do their sails in the silent evening."
the security guards delayed,
unfurling silk kimonos to wear in the confusion of night
and they had dragons
and chrysanthemums
draped over their arms and holsters
and their coffee was rich with a stupendous dizzying energy
which spoke to them
saying,
"you must leave this place and go
to help
and heal
where the real
suffering
is."
_____
image at top: Socorro Mission, El Paso, Texas
I have used a technique I got from reading Grover Lewis, of alternating style and feeling between stanzas.
music: Jennifer Warnes "Song of Bernadette"
"A nickel a snorkel" made me smile. Love the "telegram stop" and "big band ballroom stop". (Reminds me of my dad's big band days.) The stanza about the women is beautiful enough to make me weep along with them. As is the mockingbird stanza. Sigh. So lovely a read. Perfect for this grey morning.
ReplyDeleteLovely mix of tropes, great sound and delivery, and many layers to sample and to appreciate. The juxtaposition of the almost-absurd beginning with the lyrical ending is very effective.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a learning process or an awakening." because
ReplyDeleterules are restrictive useless barbaric" That is so true in so many cases. Usually the rule makers are the rule breakers, so why follow to begin with. Energy is put into things that don't help...I like your ending.."you must leave this place and go to help and heal where the real suffering is." You have created such a wonderful poem from the word list. I am humbled you asked to showcase my work, and humbled my work could inspire such creativity. Thank you
The whirlwind of images against the darkness of the carnival-like atmosphere, the distraught women, the bent willows, dragons, chrysanthemums, and finally, "to help and heal" when the mission becomes clear. "In the heavy hour": I loved the absolute WEIGHT of this phrase. Relieved only by the mockingbird's words to go to the "place of no explanation," as if meaning only adds to the weight, when meaninglessness delivers weightlessness. This is a poem to dive into, over and over again.
ReplyDeleteThis felt like a journey from the absurd to the depths of sorrow, and then on to the revelation of hope. I especially loved the stanza of the women that never cut their hair because of sorrow. You never disappoint my friend! Every poem you write is a treasure to hold on to!
ReplyDeleteThis is a glimpse into the recesses of a brilliant mind. Amazing Shay.
ReplyDeleteI love this poem, but this is my favorite. Brilliant.
ReplyDelete"and they gave these instructions via telegram stop
from the big band ballroom stop
where the rhumba and the mambo
never stop
stop"
This whole poem is just so exquisite and wonderful and beautifully crafted. There's such an emotional intelligence to the images you create and the shape of the poem itself. The whole concept of doctors in balloon pants, dragons and chrysanthemums and holsters draped over the arms of security guards, and the coffee that was "rich with a stupendous dizzying energy." Never mind the rhumba and the mambo that never stop, the music of it going on in the background. All of this is wonderful <3
ReplyDelete