Sunday, February 11, 2018

Purple

Purple

On faux seas
float
with no hope to sink
and no need for wind.
The hull carries the loot
of 1000 mardi gras beads.
Potholes on the road
crash as waves on the bow.
Planks of paper
soften in the rain,
revealing the dark machine
underneath.

-Robert L. Jackson III




18 comments:

  1. It seems that under many gleaming exteriors darkness lies in wait.

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  2. So many times we find that life is just a stage set hiding damp and darkness... may we find the sea with words.

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  3. Perhaps because purple is a favorite color, I am reading this a bit differently....seeing a Mardi Gras parade described in beautiful metaphors...a warning of the darkness such revelry can bring.

    Donna@LivingFromHappiness

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  4. What a beautiful ship model that is. I enjoyed the poem very much.

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  5. on faux seas - darkness may or may not lurk, perhaps it is all about perspective. Interesting read...

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  6. I was surprised by the entrance of mardi gras beads. I just went to a mardi gras party last night.

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  7. But – as Sherry also says – what a beautiful model ship! It inspires me immediately to conjure imaginary seas. Maybe "imaginary" is not the same as "faux"? But life and adventure, I suppose, must include the risk of sinking or being becalmed. Well, may our planks of paper have poems on them which, even if rain-softened or tear-stained, may act as magic charms to keep us afloat.

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  8. This is fantastic. I understand how you mean it, but I choose to read the title as hiding "pure play" as your float hides a machine. But so what? That doesn't have to be sad or fake; that can also be to the children's/leaders' credit for being imaginative and excited to have fun, even if it rains and even if there are bumps in the road.

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  9. 'man and machine' seems to be a somewhat recurring theme that informs much of your work - which I find fascinating, intriguing and really, really cool. Another brilliant piece of writing, Rob.

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    1. It could be the engineer in me revealing itself. Thanks for the encouragement.

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  10. The darkness under the softening paper...

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  11. To me purple is the color of mourning. So I thought of the paper softening to expose the machine and for some reason this made me sad. Still, I like your poem because sadness is such a part of life.

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  12. What a satisfying hobby is modelling usually tried as kids then when older and keener produce such wonderful models such one illustrated. Curiously my son is an avid modeller so I can enjoy his work without worrying about the fiddly bits myself.

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  13. Perfect capture of the Mardi Gras with its yin and yang qualities

    much love...

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  14. A dark reminder of the seamy side beneath it all. Well captured.

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