Sunday, 22 July 2012

Stone


I post stones down the sink
One for yes
Two for no
We have talked like this for three years
It is enough
He still has words
He asks questions through the pipes
Is it safe
Two stones
Is it safe
Two stones
Is it ever safe
Two stones
I wonder what he does with my answers
There must be lots of stones
Down the pipes
In the sink
In his hands
If I said yes
The water might flow again
I pick up stones
Every time I leave
Careful of time
Of streets
I make sure I see her
Two candles burn at her feet
The other waits
I dip my finger in the cool water
I am hurried
It splashes my face not my head
I see her son pointing at his chest
The holes
don’t go don’t go
I know you are here
I always go
I always seek the stain
I get the green paper
The treasure which moves me from no
There are words
Black words
I wonder if the black words are the last words
But that is too big
The stones cannot answer the question I wait for him to ask.  

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18 comments:

  1. J Cosmo Newbery22 July 2012 at 02:48

    I am afraid that I have no idea what you are talking about. I am more than happy to admit that this is probably a failing on my part, not yours.

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  2. Old Egg22 July 2012 at 03:14

    I like the analogy of of posting stones down the sink to solve his problem, or is it yours? This is dark and nightmarish where a dream is close to horrific but you just have a semblance of control. Whatever you do don't lose that.

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  3. Jae Rose22 July 2012 at 04:43

    Glad you visited anyway J Cosmo..thanks..

    Not sure OldEgg..glad there seems to be a bit of control left..will hold it like posting stones..thank you..

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  4. Mary22 July 2012 at 06:26

    Hard sometimes to know the answers or even to find the right questions.

    One doesn't want to stop that sink completely from flowing though. As once it stops, it is hard to get it flowing again.

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  5. Ann (bunnygirl)22 July 2012 at 08:13

    We are never safe, and perhaps the trouble lies in our illusion that we ever can be.

    I love the image of communicating only through pipes and stones, all human connection at a level once removed, and all questions reduced to the level of yes or no.

    Communicating this way leaves no room for maybe, sometimes, but or if. It's no wonder the stones can't answer the questions.

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  6. Jae Rose22 July 2012 at 08:50

    Thank you Mary..a steady flow of water is essential to life.. :)

    Exactly so Ann..safe is movable..and the stones aren't enough..although she might say so..thank you..

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  7. Josie Two Shoes22 July 2012 at 09:28

    I too loved the image of communicating thru pipes and a code of sounds. It opened up suggestions of other ways this might be implemented. I also loved the much deeper textures of this poem, and a mind working its way thru the puzzle, trying to sort the sense of it. A challenging good read!

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  8. electricity prices queensland22 July 2012 at 09:30

    Communication is the answer to your problem. Just talk to him in a calm manner so that all will be settled.

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  9. joanne22 July 2012 at 16:50

    I ditto your first comment a little. I couldn't wrap my head around the larger meaning, but you write with such a cadence, like music....and the plumbing pipes beat a cell phone...

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  10. Ben Ditty22 July 2012 at 20:14

    This concept of the stones is just brilliant.

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  11. totomai23 July 2012 at 05:55

    could be a metaphor too. emotionless partner, friend or lover...

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  12. Jae Rose23 July 2012 at 06:10

    Thank you Josie..i guess there is a sense of working on a puzzle..glad you found layers in there!

    Advice duly noted..thank you electricity prices...

    Thanks Joanne..yes indeed..no need to re-charge a stone ;)

    Thanks very much Ben..

    Yes, thanks totomai..or the other way around!

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  13. Anonymous23 July 2012 at 16:49

    black words is an interesting concept for one, it can mean a lot of things, for another, it can also mean words printed in black ink, but what about good words, printed in another ink

    Olympic Torch Senryu

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  14. Jae Rose24 July 2012 at 06:26

    Thanks Zongrik..yes, i think it's meant in several ways..good words deserve a flash of colour perhaps..blue is good..

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  15. Daydreamertoo25 July 2012 at 07:44

    Yes, always keep the flow. Running water soothes so much. There is such deep meaning in this which we as readers cannot begin to understand but, I understand the spirituality in this. Of the candles at her feet and the green paper treasure (in church, I think) There is a musical feel to this. As Mary says, just don't drop so many stones, the pipes get blocked :)
    I am following your blog but, I never get any emails to tell me you've updated, strange?

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  16. Jae Rose25 July 2012 at 09:07

    Thank you Daydreamer..water is elemental..maybe why it sits at the door of the church..i will measure my stones..I am not sure if the blog has email updates..I really need to spend some time on the technical things..although I added myself as a follower by accident and don't get emails..jae

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  17. Sharp Little Pencil28 July 2012 at 13:24

    The stones remind me of two things: The Celtic cairn, piles of stones, and that visiting a Jewish grave, one always leaves behind a simple stone to let the next person know someone else remembered the person buried there.

    Intriguing: The only answers he gets are Yes and No. He wants and needs more, but she is in control

    Green paper... money? Naw, too obvious. First green I remember seeing in your poems of late, lots of blue and red. Intriguing. Love you Jae! Amy

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  18. Belva Rae Staples4 August 2012 at 20:31

    Black words mark the end of the conversation. Only evil will result from any further discussion. Stones won't answer the question anymore.

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