after the capture comes this watershed
‘though there are no fluid feelings or sylvan streams
just a slither of liquefaction in red rage on hard rock
where riddles run in rills between the feet of a Sphinx
apparitions vex the mind that made them
contradictions of the corpus callosum divide
seeing from believing
a Teumessian fox can never be caught
by a hound that always hunts to success*
the bull immovable by an unstoppable force
– an undesirable ego takes the desired way
Such posers leave me panting;
already exhausted by the chase, I’m paralysed by paradox
motionless, the minute lies of illusion materialise
all false dilemmas of a dilettante disposition descend
I surrender this impossible knot of self-contradiction
together whip and rope make loopholes for the way ahead**
an unfettered bull ploughs the path
*see Greek Mythology
** symbolic of discipline and commitment to meditation
Fifth poem of the series interpreting the symbolic, ten oxherding pictures of Zen meditation – see Poetry Project: 10 bulls
And joining with Victoria’s poetics prompt this week: “I once used an earthquake in a poem: Symbolism”
One almost hesitates to say a taurus de force, but phew. I definitely need an unfettered bull to plough my course. Perhaps then it wouldn’t be so clogged up with knotty obstacles and other diversions.
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thanks Tish – lovely pun – have found this later stage hard to to write maybe because I am nowhere near the unfettered bull!
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This is a wonderful poem… I read it several times and saw new layers every time, love the project… we do need them don’t we. I hope you intend to do a book on this.
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Thank you Björn for such a glowing and very supportive comment. I was beginning to think I’d taken on more than I could handle with this project – been easier since I’ve allowed each to manifest organically and hence do not try for similarity of form. Yes I hope to print it one day
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I have a similar project with my librarian.
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He is ageing well!
https://brudberg.me/category/the-aged-librarian/
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I agree–multiple layers to this (erudite) poem. I’m reading in a distracting environment and hope to have time to revisit. I see the divisiveness of left and right (brain) (politics) and the raging bull that seems as though it will never be tamed–personally and globally.
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No politics here though – only right and left brain – symbol vs logos and the illusion that there is division. I cannot put the world right so am working on self improvement!
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You are right about the need to discipline. The same is true with breaking a horse. Too many today are like wild banshees, saying and doing whatever.. Dwight
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Not sure horses ride the path of enlightenment – even symbolically
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Treasuring the 10 bull pics and having them on the wall of my living room from many years (bought in Japan), I enjoyed this and the image of the efforts of just sitting (zazen). Funny the different takes on those ten pictures between the various contradictory schools of Buddhist — me I love the Tibetan Nyingma school, which embraces the repugnant, and escapes nothing. The bull is not to be tamed, but ridden with its wildness. Very thoughtfilled poem
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thank you for a very thoughtful reply and pleased to meet a fellow bull herder! Way to go though…
“Since everything is complete in itself, one comes to abandon the illness of efforts
And thus one continues spontaneously in the calm state of contemplation.” – the Cuckoos Song
p.s. pursued your Nyingma school, and came across the cuckoo which coincidentally had appeared in my ‘Catching the bull’
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I liked the phrases: “paralysed by paradox” and “minute lies of illusion materialise
all false dilemmas”
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thanks Frank – the paradox does indeed paralyse – stops our thoughts like the sound of one hand clapping!
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I see a lot of symbolism in your poem and 1 reading is not enough ~ The animal is majestic, and the paradox is food for thought ~
Good for you to have this as your writing project ~
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thank you for your observations Grace – good to get feedback and like a meal, this poem cannot be swallowed hurriedly – after all it is all about meditation and getting a real taster of self!
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Eloquently expressed, and very philosophical.
I visited the link you provided for this Poetry project:10 bulls. What a beautiful project.
That is a beautiful painting!
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thank you for this lovely comment Amy and for bothering to follow up – am halfway now – will see what I can complete in 2018
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