On Poetry: words

Words are useful. They form the unformed imaginings of the mind. They are useful for taking a portion of those imaginings and touching the minds of other people. Words have become a crutch though. We have taken them and depended on them when we pursue the imaginings of our own minds.

In the communication - one mind to another - what exists in one mind crosses at an intersection of what exists in the other mind. This intersection is a fine crosshair. What exists in the mind is a vast ocean - more vast - it is the vastness of space.

Poetry attempts to communicate this vast storehouse of treasure. one would think that in an abundance of words we can some how reveal this vastness. Yet it is with brevity where we tap the treasure.

Some have gotten pretty close to writing in such brevity. The wisdom writings of the ancient Hebrews were one. Many of the writings of the Hebrew proverbs were poems that had parallel thought. In saying the same thing twice one could not just double the meaning, but multiply it. They also had contrasting thoughts. A contrasting thought could sharpen the focus - even though it would appear to obscure the meaning.

Even better were the writings of the Japanese writers. The Japanese poets refined the art of the short poem. The most refined were the Tanka and the Haiku. Many times these poems created a moment and a place in time, creating a moment to free the mind from the burden of the day.

he in quietness
touches the magnolia
swimming in fragrance

in such a

sometimes i always wonder (so when will you grow up) if i will someday be - yet i am always moving forward — moving - is it true that we strive to arrive but miss the fact that the trip is the real trip - when will i be what i am (are you really (no but not you)) - how can i (or is it will) communicate (but you talk so much (do you ever say anything (who am i am you am me am i))) - and then i always assume that i will get my act together someday be like you (is the you you or the you me) is this the color of my mind so why would i ever want to be like you but to be the me that is is me - and which me is i i would want to be am i what i am or what i imagine me hm - either will be fine (are we ever what we are or are we what we imagine we to be (or is it me) - which is the question if i we me don't punctuate - is it you or is it me or the me i think i am or who i really am or is really really - excuse me sylvia is that you (or really you (or is this me that is speaking (or am i speaking (or is thinking really speaking)))i think i lost count) who is sylvia is she the sylvia i want her to be or the one you (you not me) imagine her to be?????????????????????