The Rest Nowhere
by Bill Yarrow
A screaming comes across the brain
interrupted by a webbed memory:
a man in brown with a rolling gait,
stubbornly strong, a dull ghost
(until spoken to), dusty and disgusting,
squinting towards wisdom. He holds his
candles upside down and ambulates
toward the great chains of his being.
Stethoscope, please! (Silence.) No pulse
on the body's horizon. I know too much
about delusion to be deceived. Love's funny
that way. When all else fails, look to the
consolations of misanthropy. Up ahead, there's
a signpost; down below, the rich ricochet of loss.
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Author's Note
A version of this poem appeared in Connotation Press.
Thank you, Joani Reese!
This poem appears in Pointed Sentences (BlazeVOX, 2012)
Discussion of poem: http://connotationpress.com/poetry/1173-bill-yarrow-poetry
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Love that final alliterative line.*
Great voice in this, Bill. Nice poem. Especially like the interruptions.
Beautiful and sad, every line. *
Thanks, Joani, Sam, and Chris!
@Sam: the interruptions a nod to Boswell in the Life of Johnson where he will often indicate the action or reaction of a speaker by putting that in parenthesis.
e.g.
"Mr. Hoole told him, he was born in Moorfields, and had received part of his early instruction in Grub-street. 'Sir, (said Johnson, smiling,) you have been regularly educated.'"
I have to love a poem that starts with an echo of Gravity's Rainbow and ends with a nod to Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone. Good poem, Bill.
"the rich ricochet of loss."
Love!*
Brilliant from beginning to end. Every word sings!
Thanks, Gary, Tina, and Sean!
Fantastic language, Bill. "A screaming comes across the brain." Indeed.
*
The opening line... reminds me of Pynchon. Leaves me breathless on the read. Peace *
Matthew and Linda--my thanks! So glad you liked the poem.
*****
'When all else fails, look to the consolations of misanthropy'
Splendid stuff.
Thanks, Jim! Thanks, David!
Haunting, and the build toward that last, phenomenal line with such alliteration! Graceful and elegant prose piece, and I adore your Pointed Sentences book!
Fave.
Thanks for the fave, Robert! Thanks for the kind words about Pointed Sentences!
Fabulous. That last line is a killer.
"squinting towards wisdom" made me think of "slouching towards Bethlehem to be born." Strong, dark voice. *
Thanks, Katie and Beate!