Curiosity

Published on by Laura Bloomsbury 

A long road 
horizon's far distant
destination sign
sets my wayward nerve
a jangling. Till tiring
of perpetual parallels
like that on-the-spot 
Red Queen's race*
I retire.

Give me blind bends
those out-of sight turnings.
It's curiosity
that keeps this pilgrim
to the path
  • from Alice through the Looking Glass – Lewis Carrol

Just 44 words for Lisa’s quadrille prompt: Around the Bend

40 thoughts on “Curiosity”

  1. I love the references to Alice, Laura, and I love this poem, especially the final stanza. I’m off to visit Ellen and the grandsons on 1st September, and hope to have a trip to Guildford, where the Alice in Wonderland statue is – there’s a great children’s playground there where we used to take Lucas when he was very young, before they moved.

    1. “you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” – I tried to capture this in that first stanza so thanks for that Kim

      p.s I somehow missed Alice in my Guildford visits and as a child I found the Alice stories rather disconcerting until hippie days of Grace Slick and “White Rabbit”!

  2. Laura wonderful turn/volta. It’s knowing no matter what is around that corner, you can handle it and there’s at least a 50/50 chance whatever it is will be hella good/fun/etc.

    1. thanks for your comment and for this inspiring prompt Lisa – despite not being an optimist, I always believe the best is just around the bend. Perversely the straight and narrow is not for me as the turn represents curiosity which keeps me going/seeking

  4. Yep. Some (i.e. Most) of the time all those unbent straight and narrow highways’ll put you to sleep.

    Dug this piece bigtime. Thanks L.

  5. Wonderful embrace of the essence of curiosity my friend. What is ahead, over the rise, round the bend, into the mists of time? 🙂✌🏼🫶🏼

  6. i like the initial uneasiness of this journey, coupled with the growing tiredness, and then the determination to keep seeking! … ever curious. enjoyed, immensely.

    1. Lewis Carroll captured that long, tiring road feeling so well with his Red Queen race – the Romans moving their troops built them all that way – quicker ultimately than the curves, the go rounds but with a lack allure and curiosity

  10. I really love the ending with the pilgrim and curiosity keeping them on track; it reminds me of explorations of nature that are always so inviting with their curvy paths.

  12. oooh – I love the contrast you’ve drawn, Laura! bends while driving (for me) may keep things interesting but they also making driving more stressful!

    ~David

  14. Just like children, I believe we still need to feed that sense of exploration. Those “blind bends” do help us along. Love this ode to curiosity, Laura.

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