Monday, January 07, 2008

New Directions

Seven days into the New Year
and it’s stalled, the day length
doesn’t change. Weather outlook:
same as yesterday’s. Rain
hides the horizons, masks dawn and dusk
so we can’t find east or west.
North? There’s moss everywhere.
No compass on land or sky—
no hands on clock or wheel—
no directions in the world. Distances dissolve,
and landmarks hide in grey
while the rain-wet maps melt
to multicolored slush.

I search my sleep for new continents
unexplored countries hidden
in the white folds of bedsheets
or dragon-hoards in the cave
inside the pillowcase. Spin the compass
and point it in new directions
like Over the Hills and Far Away,
Once Upon a Time, There and Back Again,
Ten Leagues Beyond the Wide World’s End
.

Stephen Crane saw a man pursuing the horizon,
and thought it futile. But at least,
he was on the move—so give me a direction
and if you can think of nothing else,
out will do.

11 comments:

Rhian said...

Ah Tiel, that is damn fine poetry.
Wonderfully powerful.

This spoke to me personally:
"and if you can think of nothing else,
out will do."
thanks so much for sharing it on the train!

Ann said...

Awesome poem, I love this part:

"Spin the compass
and point it in new directions
like Over the Hills and Far Away,
Once Upon a Time, There and Back Again,
Ten Leagues Beyond the Wide World’s End."
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Anonymous said...

love this--so many nice touches!

i'm esp fond of the use of "stall" how we stall the weather stalls etc right off the bat it lures me in and the language and rythm keeps me going to the end. the last stanza changes a lot, stops it, and that's great, it works!

i look forward to discovering more of your work!

Keith's Ramblings said...

A truly great read and a fine choice of words. Loved it.

Anonymous said...

This is great! I felt like I was on a boat stuck in an endless fog going nowhere.

Preethi said...

What a wonderful poem...
"But at least,
he was on the move—so give me a direction"
loved this..

Over the Horizon

Tumblewords: said...

I feel the pull of the weather in this - extended gray and wet present challenges - the last two lines are outstanding...

Unknown said...

I loved this, the journey of looking for direction in sleep, well written.

My entry (first) is at:
http://wannabeawritersomeday.blogspot.com/2008/01/over-horizon-writers-island-edition-1.html

little wing writer said...

intriguing visuals of a wonderful journey on the move in gray skies

Danika Dinsmore said...

i like the way the poem moves... particularly where it ends... i've been there! just wanting to go, move.

Anonymous said...

Hah! As a denizen of Seattle I relate - totally! If this keeps up the neighborhood is going to have to chip in on an Ark.