The Flaneur
I do no work, I stroll,
I smoke,
they call me mad;
I choose
to be deaf.
For words
I dig a suitable grave,
to speech I prefer
a lunch of flowers.
You saw all this
with your monocular
vision, beautiful prey,
yet your heart
is my lemming.
There's nothing
to be done
about that.
~June 2013
55 idle smoke-rings for the g-man
also posted for real toads
Challenge: Out of Standard with Izy
Film School Drop Out Edition
The
always unexpected Isadora Gruye has a Leos Carax film clip up at the
above link--her challenge was to write to it. Not sure that I grasped
anything essential about it, but this is what came from the experience
of watching it..
Process notes: flaneur : "loafer, idler," 1854, from Fr. flâneur, from flâner "to stroll, loaf, saunter," probably from a Scand. source (cf. Norw. flana, flanta "to gad about").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Image: Self-Portait with a Sunflower, Anthony Van Dyk, 1632
Public Domain
"Yet your heart is my lemming", I like that a lot, Joy Ann.
ReplyDeletePamela
Concur whole lemmingly. :) ~ M
Delete:_)
DeleteShaking my head in wonder at how you were able to capture the essence of that clip!!!
ReplyDeleteYour piece has more art to it than my stroll down the dark side. "For words I dig a suitable grave." I like that.
ReplyDeleteA bit of Whimsey d'Fracaise from the Hedgewitch?
ReplyDeleteTres Bien Fleidermouse de la Lune!!!
Or is it de le Lune? J'Oublier!
Another anachronistic Masterpiece 55
Thanks for thinking of The Friday Funfest,
We are indeed honoured...
Have a Kick Ass Week-End
ha. nothing wrong with a little madness...and there are some edible flowers....smiles...the trick is just getting them to open up a bit...and be your lemming....ha
ReplyDeletevery much dig this poem, hedgey! The voice sings beyond madness and back to edible. Well done and viva la!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Joy. I love this part
ReplyDelete"they call me mad;
I choose
to be deaf."
How wonderful to be so sure of himself as is the idle flaneur, ignoring whatever the world has to say about him.
K
Yikes, while the video clip was pretty much in-your-face disturbing, this is smoovly disturbing! This is one Frenchman I plan to keep my distance from. And keep him out of your garden, Hedge, he'll have a banquet.
ReplyDeleteExcellent turns of phrase lift this self-inspection to the stature of art. Your metaphoric use of many of the visual images makes this an intellectual response to a bit of surreal madness.
ReplyDeleteThis is just damn cool.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant. I love " For words I dig a suitable grave, " and "Your heart is my lemming."
ReplyDeleteyeah, i too really like "your heart is my lemming"
ReplyDeleteWow, there's this whole early Friday thing this week. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved the fatality in this. What will be, will surely be.
you have captured an entire subculture here. (if not madness entirely) While this takes me back in time, I suspect the culture I read into this has been present at every age. There is a worry-less aspect that is almost admirable, and yet, the lack of boundaries has me feeling insecure. really wonderful write, I am enjoying the spin you've put my thoughts into.
ReplyDeleteI've been bracing myself before each new reading just because of the video content. Your poetry is indeed art. You captured the essence as beauty in madness. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHey Joy, I thought I commented but have been so much in mobile devices I may not have done something correctly - a very cool poem. I love the very word Flaneur actually if not the concept - and the lemming hearts jumping into his void are quite poignant. Only I realize now that it is he that perceives them as lemming hearts - so who knows - maybe they don't care so much for him after all.
ReplyDeleteI love the "I smoke." It reminds me of Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest who is happy when a man smokes because at least he then has an occupation. Something like that. When not bunburying. Thanks. k.
Laughin at the refined and infinitely satirical wisdom of Wilde. I also find the word 'flaneur' wonderful in its whole package--meaning and sound, because it just suggests something over-evolved and useless, I think. Anyway, thanks for reading, k.
DeleteI love I choose to be deaf and your heart is my lemming...so much movement in this piece I love your opening, too, Hedge, sounds ideal! :)
ReplyDeleteThis was really fun!
ReplyDeleteI like the brevity and exactitude of each line. As I read your poem, in my mind, I saw the clip running once again. :)
ReplyDeleteFar, far too much beauty in these words for it to accompany that video clip. Yes, these words paint a horrid image... but you make it all sound so GOOD! :)
ReplyDeleteA little bit of insanity can go a long way with art - as long as the artist knows it is.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this.
That was fun. It made my mind flit on all kinds of wonders.
ReplyDeleteFlash 55 - The Accidental Gardener
Oh my -you know what they say about idle hands! Good job : )
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the lines:
ReplyDeleteFor words
I dig a suitable grave,
and
yet your heart
is my lemming.
Always a treat Joy.