Monday, December 04, 2006

Test pilot

I live in a world
pretty much alone.
Sometimes, its true,
I take to the sky
and fly with Neruda.
Or I can be with Ashberry
as the character of a river.
Buk takes me to the bar
or better, to New Orleans
for the antidote to painful.

But most of the time
it is just little old me
floating above, through
and outside life
as everybody
knows it.

Sometimes with Ferlinghetti
I put on graceful shoes,
I love the tight rope
but I walk high above
using an old wound
for a balance bar.

14 comments:

S.L. Corsua said...

I love how the voice in this piece (i.e. the "I") speaks in a steady whisper -- the words flow with, seemingly, no need for any separate observer. For me, that is where the magnitude, the force of the poem seizes me; and, breathless, I am reminded of how beauty and pain similarly flow. (I think I'm getting misty-eyed. Hah. *wistful sigh*)

p.s.
This would also be apt for a monologue on stage. I could imagine the one chair and the one light. ^_^

Anonymous said...

Oh, Russell, you've outdone yourself!

Pat Paulk said...

Russell you floored me with this one. I agree with souless, this would make for a great read on stage!! "but I walk high above
using an old wound for a balance bar.", all the masters you mention would love this line!! What's the answer to the riddle?? My fingers are getting tired of hanging...

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks soulless! You are precisely right about the whisper, and the absence of a listener too. As you so well know, poets live in a different world than the rest of humankind. That is why this is a quiet monologue. On the stage would be a spotlight, emphasizing the sense of being alone.

Thanks, my sweet. What a wonderful, perceptive comment!

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Aurora! What great praise! I'm so glad that you liked this. Thank you for saying that, sweet lady.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Pat! I've been having a couple of themes running around in my head, that won't go away, and that is one of them. I'm sure I'll come back to it soon as well, as I already am working on another poem on this. Glad this excited you.

As for the riddle, hang on just a bit longer, I'd like to see if there are any more bites.

Thanks for the fantastic comment, my friend.

Pris said...

This is a wonderful poem! I'm adding you to my links. Hope that's okay.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks pris! I'd be honord to be among your links. I'd like to do the same, if you don't mind. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem. Thanks for the link, visit and the wonderful comment!

iamnasra said...

sweet poem

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks Nasra!

gautami tripathy said...

With your poem, you always take me on a journey to one aspect or the other, of life...

Sue hardy-Dawson said...

'using an old wound
for a balance bar' Oh how I recognise this-a thing so difficult to let go

Russell Ragsdale said...

Thanks gautami tripathy! Your comments always make me glad we take these journeys together. Thanks for that kind and wistful comment.

Russell Ragsdale said...

Hi Sue! We get so used to using things they are indeed difficult to part with. Thanks, Sue, for that comment from the heart.