Widow's
Walk
or, Bring
Me Brains for Christmas
Intellect's a tongue-tied bystander
when
instinct
commandeers
the sprung ship,
rigs a
shredded sail.
Thought's
a pacing widow
looking
out to sea,
a
singularity
emotion
devours.
The mind's a dolphin thrashing, snagged
in the reaction net; let some kind
clever hand untangle her, before
she's sliced for the
silver can.
~December
2012
Posted for real toads
Challenge: Words Count with Mama Zen
The inimitable Mama Zen asks us to state our dearest Christmas wish in 50 words or less. Christmas is a time when my emotions often get the better of me, so I am echoing the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz: "If I only had a brain..." Santa?? Igor???
Header Image: Woman by the Sea, by Pierre de Chavanne
Public Domain via wikipaintings.org
Footer: Photo copyright Octavia Aberto, National Geographic Photo Contest 2012
All Rights Reserved
Thought's a pacing widow
ReplyDeletelooking out to sea,
a singularity
emotion devours....and dang, a dolphin thrashing caught in the net....i love the allusions you chose hedge....very cool...
happy saturday to you...smiles.
Oh, I like the ending! -sliced for the silver can.
ReplyDeleteWhoa!
Each individual stanza contains a stark image, and each works with its neighbour to explore the tangled thoughts with painful clarity.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem. Nice to see you! The imagery is wonderful here - I am reminded of Hamlet! To take arms against a sea of troubles and by so opposing end them - something like that ! Only kind of an internal sea here - pheremones! emotion! All the tying of tongue and intellect really cool--and your pacing is so good - the way the hand is called in to cut somehow literally slows down, slices through.
ReplyDeleteMy brain's imagery is more one of drowning than caught! Decayed sponge rather than thrashing dolphin (unfortunately!) Five fathoms deep (not in the good sense) and wasting fast.
But this is much more universal--even a youthful brain can be caught in that net - and just terrific. k.
Thanks k--it's a frantic time of year and hard on old and young brains, I think. Have a good weekend.
DeleteFantastic imagery, masterful. "rigs a shredded sail"....I know that feeling.
ReplyDeleteGlad you're back. Great video. Nothing like a little metal. Never heard of Nightwish. They tear it up. Holy mackerel.
ReplyDeleteTo lead with the head or heart? It seems so simple for some.
Thanks Scott. That's an old track, but it kind of expresses the seasonal malaise well--they are from Finland, I think, so know all about winterish blues. Sometimes I have a hard time even finding one of those to lead with.
DeleteYeah, we certainly can damage ourselves...hopefully the hand of the fisherman is kind.
ReplyDeleteThis resonates...warns touches...imagry is fantastic. Just brilliant!
ReplyDeleteA Japanese fishing net no doubt!!
ReplyDeleteHave a Kick Ass Week-End anyway Moonbat....G
Taking a little break from vacation and kicking ass! This is deadly gorgeous, Hedge. And, though I know it's not what you are referring to, this perfectly describes a fit of OCD.
ReplyDeleteI can see how that could be--never good when heart and head get out of sync.
Deleteooooh, the reaction net. yikes.
ReplyDeleteWow...love it all but your last stanza had me tensed up with the thought of the tin cans...really strong images throughout and your word choices are always refreshing. Great writing, Hedge!!
ReplyDeletenot *but* I mean and your last stanza...I love it all. lol
DeleteThat final stanza is kick-ass from the first word to the last. The mind as a thrashing dolphin; that's awfully good.
ReplyDeleteI am struck by that bottom photograph as well. A fish ball! Invitation only? Looks like everyone came anyway.
Santa? Igor? Bueller?
Intellects commandeered by instinct, thoughts devoured by emotions, minds snagged by reactions- no wonder we need new brains. But this is brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI instantly thought of the widow's walks that were built on all the old houses facing out to sea, something so tragic about the image, arms hugging oneself for solace, staring at the horizon. I love "reaction net", yeah, sliced up for the silver can. Good job. Always a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteWhole poem is brilliant, I was grabbed straightaway by the truth in these words:
ReplyDeleteIntellect's a tongue-tied bystander
when instinct
commandeers the sprung ship,
rigs a shredded sail.
I love the guided imagery and I can feel the truth
ReplyDeletecutting through! Well Done~
It's all good as usual, hedge
ReplyDeleteAnd that last line rocks!
But thought as a widow, looking out to sea, is what will stick with me.
It all speaks of a blind side and the shock there after.
It's a wonderful sentiment. Very beautiful.
ReplyDelete"Thought's a pacing widow, looking out to sea"....."mind's a thrashing dolphin".......fantastic metaphors, Hedge, very fine writing.
ReplyDeletethis is picturesque wisdom. Thought as a pacing widow really sings to me.AS does the subtle reference to sea as emotion. I agree-- kindness (usually of the self variety) can save the thrashing mind. wonderfully fitting to the season.
ReplyDeleteThanks all. Been offline a lot--I will get back in the groove after the holidays, I hope, but want to thank everyone for visiting and leaving their thoughts. I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeletea very interesting piece; the dolphin bit stung a bit. but definitely some powerful images. I hope you get your wish, though I wager if you we're able to throw something like this together...your brain is intact.
ReplyDelete