“There is a human wildness held beneath the skin that finds all barriers brutishly unbearable ~ Jim Harrison ~Songs of Unreason
The mind is a jealous god
cognizant with all its human limitations
detects them as detestable shades of incarceration
a castaway on an island of blood and dust
at times it denies there even is such an embodiment
calls itself Ariel and takes wild flights of fancy
losing its wayward way back to asylum
so that even the island begins to sink
mostly though consciousness computes and calculates
takes track of time by counting constellations
grains of sand and caring for the island
enough to keep itself honed to the hilt
and all the while it cannot help but harbour envy
for the Other – the resident without tether
the ethereal superior that vaunts the heavens
but when mind mirrors such ecstasies with verse
and rhyme, the island begins to sing
Pursuant to Jilly’s pick of Jim Harrison quotes as poetry prompt on Day 26 of 28 Days of Unreason
PoetryPix 
Terrific. Soaring last line, and “Other – the resident without tether” is brilliant.
no need for names! thank you for such a soaring comment
What’s that line about Freud’s theory of consciousness? Something to do with a maiden aunt wrestling a gorilla in a cellar? Whatever – I think you’ve transcended that here. I like your use of the word “asylum” with it’s various connotations, and that consciousness computing and counting incessantly. Like it a lot.
glad you got to grips with this Sara – and many thanks for all your appreciation
( I did not know about the gorilla in the cellar but sounds about right)
Oh my! An island that sings. That’s wonderful.
overtones of Elgar even!
A beautiful analysis of the mind…. an island that sings… sigh😔
the mind is an amazing maze trick made for poetry – thanks Vivian
😊
Yes, there is an element of lunacy here that is felt more so than yesterdays poem. Its almost like someone is seeing some illusion of everything disappearing before their eyes.
oh how well observed and understood – hence the madness!
and here is my other poem that links to this by way of the prompt
survival of the tamest