Subterranean
Some days, the sides of the pit
slope away and you can climb
high enough to see a glimpse
of the land around it,
the oaks and elms, the ivy
circling the trunks, the path,
half in shade and half in sun,
before fatigue of the climb
sends you sliding down again.
Today, the sides of the pit
slope toward you
and there is no climbing up
to any height, and the sun
is cloaked by cloud,
and memory of glimpses
of the land beyond the stony rim
seems less memory than taunting
recollection of a dream.
slope away and you can climb
high enough to see a glimpse
of the land around it,
the oaks and elms, the ivy
circling the trunks, the path,
half in shade and half in sun,
before fatigue of the climb
sends you sliding down again.
Today, the sides of the pit
slope toward you
and there is no climbing up
to any height, and the sun
is cloaked by cloud,
and memory of glimpses
of the land beyond the stony rim
seems less memory than taunting
recollection of a dream.
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"Today, the sides of the pit
slope toward you
and there is no climbing up"
Yes - Absolutely. A good read, Gary.
Thank you, Sam.
like :)
"the path,
half in shade and half in sun"
Thank goodness for that.
But I remember the pit. I get this poem, Gary.
Excellent!
Shades of Jack Gilbert in this piece.
Really enjoyed; thanks, Gary. :)
Excellent capture, Gary. Put together perfectly *
oh man, if this ain't the truth.
****
"less memory than taunting
recollection of a dream." Been there.*
You convey the feeling so well: *.
I got music, crazy music, who could ask for anything more?
This gets eerily right to the heart of it. I'm going back to bed. *
The imagery is so clear, Gary. It's just another grey day in Oregon and the slopes of the valley keep me from climbing the mountain. Nicely done.
Ah, yes. Some days. And then those others. Fave*.
Thanks everyone for including this in your readings. I'm grateful for that and your kind remarks.
Well done.
Fave, Gary. I am hooked on your work. I guess I shouldn't reach for comparisons, but this seems "Sisyphean" to me and I really like it.
Very sharp. Nice work.
Thanks, JP, David, and Neil.
Yes, some days, too many sometimes. You've caught those days so well.*
Thank you, John.
I can relate! *
Fascinating work.*
Well done. Perhaps the best descriptive metaphor I've read. Another fave.
You got me sliding under, Gary.
Been there... Too often. Well done.
Wonderful piece Gary.
*
Thank you, Beate, Amanda, Emily, Tim, Steve, and Roberto. The encouragement is wonderful.
Oh, yes. Nailed it.
Yes, sometimes everything is seen from the vantage point of a pit. Fine piece, Gary.
Love this: <I>and memory of glimpses
of the land beyond the stony rim
seems less memory than taunting
recollection of a dream.</I>
Beautiful and haunting