Lending My Voice For Paul Poem by Daniel Brick
Lending My Voice For Paul
The light refuses to enter your
narrow room but clings like a trellis
to the southern window. It is a dim
December Thursday. You slipped from wheelchair
to bed, briefly setting off an alarm,
which summoned an unalarmed attendant.
'Can I shut my eyes, ' you asked me
unnescessarily. 'Of course, ' I replied,
even as your eyelids floated on the margins
of sleep. You drifted for a while
in the chambers of rest, then stirred,
and spoke as from an oracle place:
'I wanted to bring those two worlds
together. It was a shining hope
in my heart that excited my whole
being with the possibility of glory.
It was as if I saw new vistas
in my soul - plateaus leading to
higher plateaus, flames igniting brighter
fires, and resonant sounds unbounded.
If the inner senses can be so moved,
imagine the outcome of a true union
of both worlds, no trace of seams,
a complete blending, a perfect whole.
But what has come of my vision? Threads
lie tangled on the floor, their colors
swirled together like a false fallen
rainbow, like promises dissolved in time.
What shines is doomed to fade. Must it
be so? ... Those who do not accept
that truth endure the sadness of gazelles,
stumbling over a cracked dry landscape,
while deep in their minds a perfect
savanna stretches across the hot horizon,
and sunshafts from a clear blue sky
illuminate huge waterholes everywhere.'
The vision had closed. Your body now
twists in and out of fitful sleep. I am left
to wonder what were those two worlds
you grasped with hope and hopelessness.
Are they worlds of Becoming? Or are they
worlds of our Unknowing? Can they only
be reached in the distances of sleep?
Can they be glimpsed at the threshold of
consciousness? What finally can I do
to prove my worth as your friend? What?
For the moment, I lend you my voice so that
you can give voice to the mystery you inhabit.
in his mind. It was one of unity, of bringing together people or places or events (I'm not sure which) that made his mind shine briefly...and then it was gone. His thought was unfinished. I want this poem to exist in an unfinished state as well as a homage to my friend and his beautiful thought.
Your friend Paul while slipping into a wistful dream muttered something about the merging of two worlds which leave you wonder what worlds he must have referred to. From his expression it was obvious that the vision he had was something positive that made his face gleam with hope! Moreover, it was in the tone of an oracle! But it seemed just a moment of fleeting hope and he slipped into a state of restless slumber! I enjoyed the way you have concluded the poem; For the moment, I lend you my voice so that you can give voice to the mystery you inhabit. The natural unfolding of events make it an exquisite piece of poem! Hope Your friend will wake up to full consciousness to explain his reverie! Enjoyed much! My sympathies to your friend!
Bringing two worlds together in friendship is really wonderful poem shared in the forum.
Thoughtful read indeed...I certainly think his falling into sleep and the two worlds represent two religions and the merging is understanding each others prays to God... in a line in some poem of mine said that God can speak every language on the planet...your friend can see Muslims and Cristian's really have the same God. Paul has meaning love to him...regards
What what a touching fascinating captivating poem on a comatose like great buddy eh! I was hooked frm top to toe and was thrilled to connote that he wanted to spell out the greatness of peace. This was a tour de force.! So nice to read u again. Hapy new year!
I am left to wonder what were those two worlds you grasped with hope and hopelessness. - - - - - The poem moves me immensely.Two worlds- - Hope and Hopelessness, so true ! ! Now that my father is going through such a stage, I can relate with your emotions.
daniel, i followed and liked this narrative and the shape of this poem. i was glad for these words in the third stanza from the bottom I am left to wonder what were those two worlds you grasped with hope and hopelessness because i myself wondered. stand-out lines for me: resonant sounds unbounded Those who do not accept that truth endure the sadness of gazelles, stumbling over a cracked dry landscape, while deep in their minds a perfect savanna stretches across the hot horizon, and sunshafts from a clear blue sky illuminate huge waterholes everywhere.' the sadness of gazelles- cool! - and then the rest of that extended metaphor- good stuff. i'm reminded of a woman, the mother of a friend, who was the first person i knew who had a stroke and struggled in the aftermath with the inability to express herself as before. questioning her i understood her mental faculties were intact, but her face, her mouth, would not obey the signals her brain sent. this poem, daniel, is good in itself and good as well in its service to your friend. glen
It is a very touching poem. I always believe, when you share joy with your friend, the joy doubles; when you share pains with your friend, the pains reduce half. Hope Paul could read this poem. He must have been very happy to have a close friend like you. Those who read this poem will feel the deep friendship between you. How beautiful!
I loved this poem very much! I felt that it is to a friendeven before I've read the note, Your style is hiding a lot of secrets. I add it to my favorite poems! It was as if I saw new vistas in my soul - plateaus leading to higher plateaus, flames igniting brighter fires, and resonant sounds unbounded. If the inner senses can be so moved, imagine the outcome of a true union of both worlds, no trace of seams, a complete blending, a perfect whole.
Powerful and profound. Thank you. How much this poem, esp. your friend's vision, reminds me of Wendell Berry's Elegy, esp. Section 7, which I am reading tomorrow as part of a eulogy for one of he two friends I lost during Christmas week. The Infinite and the finite, Eternity and time, Heaven and this world: ultimately they are all one, aren't they. And the finite mind can never contemplate how. Dreams I have these days are silly, inane impossibilities, and I am not myself. I keep hoping for one experience of the One.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/18/2024 12:52:20 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Beautiful poem. We certainly do not know what goes on in people's mind without speech. Even with speech it is difficult to give shape to an subjective experience with its vague happenings and events. But it must have been a very positive experience for him to feel so excited and optimistic. You have captured his emotions and your feelings beautifully to transform it in an excellent poem. Enjoyed reading it. My heart goes out to your friend with much love.