The Best of Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum : 05.22.10
“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” Franz Kafka
Thinking About You (above) by our current featured artist, Christian Millet , one of the maddest of the maddest painters currently coloring the virtual walls in Mad Swirl's eclectic electronic collective Mad Gallery.
Just in case you missed it, here's just a taste of the poetry we featured this week in Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum...
•••••••••••
Sugar
Sugar is so sweet.
He He chooses Sugar
But Sugar will not have her;
Sugar doesn’t like
Fat little children with dimples.
Sugar is so sweet.
Oooth.
Hungry comes to eat.
SupperTime likes Hungry
But ate all the tongues and teeth
For to chew the meat.
SupperTime runs out all in shame.
SupperTime likes Hungry.
Mmmer.
SlimHer picks a mouth.
SlimHer likes Big-Lipped This
But goes with That One Sowed Shut.
They’ll soon be good friends
After Dinner steals their children.
SlimHer goes with That One Sowed Shut.
Uuuzs.
NumbMumble gets born
To be nothing certain
But certain to be nothing:
A certain Nothing,
Fed and sleepy and farting then,
A certain Nothing.
Nnnal.
Taste has Here Before.
Taste is mannered in Then
But gendered and pregnant with
Proceeding and Next.
Taste stays still and hates it’s naked
Proceeding and Next.
Iiiwb.
Quinten Collier
(3 poems added 05.22.10)
editor's note: So much to-do, more than we expected, for just a taste of something sweet. There are consequences and choices beyond our control? But, we just want a taste! "Pick me, Sugar, pick me! I don't look fat at all... in the right light." (See more from Quinten on his new page among our Contributing Poets) - mh
•••••••••••
The Power of Word Usage
He took a dictionary and
Dug out a bunch of words.
They were long, unusual,
They stuck between the teeth,
Learned, over learned words
Not for an everyday usage.
abecedarian,
bibliopegy,
contumacious,
dermatoglyphics...
He searched and he found many.
He arranged the words in lines,
From these lines he shaped a free verse.
The poem looked very impressive -
Sullen academic kind,
IQ was bursting from it
In words long and brain breaking.
He felt sick but he did not buckle
Under the intellectual weight of the poem.
epiphenomenon,
fugacious,
gemutlich,
horripilation...
He wanted to be published so badly!
He cornered a friend and read him
This cleverly crafted poem.
The friend exclaimed "Amazing!"
And hastily went into hiding -
Extremely encouraging sign,
This must be a powerful writing!
Indeed, very soon it was published
In a serious poetry journal.
It is now on his wall in a frame,
He feels proud and self important.
idiopathic,
jackanapes,
Kafkaesque,
legerdemain...
Long live the power of word usage!
Irena Pasvinter
(added 05.21.10)
editor's note: Ahaha! I stripped off all my grammar garb (no one was looking) and jumped, naked-cortex into this one, bathed myself in vocabularic revelry. Yes, yes, I'm just a contumacious jackanapes who can't resist inducing my own epiphenomenon by putting my dirty little literary dermatoglyphs all over this one. Come on, folks! You can't resist this! Get your Power On!!! - mh
•••••••••••
Good, good.
Call me on a Tuesday
After the divot of weekend’s end.
When you ask me what’s new
I’ll die a little inside
And eulogize brightly,
Concealing the evidence.
See me on a Friday
When I can’t believe it came so fast
Pulling its wagon of endless weeks
Behind it
Making a terrible clunking noise.
We’ll go to that same party.
The masked ball
Where everyone poses
Then spills
Their insides on the sticky floor
Cleaning it wearily till Sunday.
Anne Potter
(added 05.20.10)
editor's note: Weekend warriors unite! Here is our credo to give "living for the weekend" the significance we knew it had but couldn't articulate. And, don't forget the rubber gloves and bleach... - mh
•••••••••••
Dirt Light Water
the origin of man:
of dirt and water and odd things
left alone after naming
asking for equality with mosquitoes
put to sleep for the inverted birthing
of wife number three. put into the world
for fear of potential immortality
--what comes after knowledge—
a cycle of debt and obligation
refracting in a mirrored circuit.
the origin of man
is born with a blood clot kicked by rabbit
dropped from buffalo carved from stone
born of corn from she-named earth
by the all-knowing indifferent sun
the origin of man
is carved pieces of driftwood
from the sons of giants
licked free from rime or
chaos birthing gaea
who created everything or
taken from the blood
of a sea-god for sufferage or
words uttered to a river
creating an embryonic sun
pushing life through dirt.
the origin of man:
hatched from an egg
framed by an egg
pervasive and eternal
reflecting skin.
Brendan McEntee
(3 poems added 05.19.10)
editor's note: Here is another Creation story from a different perspective. After all our wallowing in the dirt with mosquitoes and blod-clots, what do we know? Our debt and obligation; government gets the goods, Death gets the rest. Well done, Mr. McEntee! - mh
•••••••••••
Whales Don’t Walk On Sidewalks
Whales don’t walk on side walks
Nor do they ride bikes
In fact I’m so sorry
I don’t know what they like.
G David Schwartz
(added 05.18.10)
editor's note: Never thought about the likes and dislikes of our cetacean friends - gives pause. Perhaps we should have asked about that purple cow back when; might have made us more sensitive. So many points of view to consider... - mh
•••••••••••
Transparency
What are you made of,
mime with painted palms
and sweaty bare
feet? How much longer
can you take in the air
all that empty space, the caiman
leaves for you to breathe?
Frail frame, proceed
and tune the white organza
mesh for the screen-painting
your imagination seeks.
When the canvas dries
don’t forget to wipe
the crowded cell
in which you’ve
always lived.
Sergio A. Ortiz
(3 poems added 05.17.10)
editor's note: Maybe if we could clean out the clutter our artistic expressions would be clear, our communications understood. It's a rare crocodile that gives us that much space... - mh
•••••••••••
CREATION
Before Creation, the Creator performed tzimtzum.
In the mystical process of tzimtzum, Hashem,
my G-d, contracted, shrank, and withdrew
into No Space, in preparation
for the Creation.
In the divine process of tzimtzum, Hashem,
my G-d, made life possible, setting
the holy stage for existence.
In the metaphysical process of tzimtzum,
Hashem, my G-d, concealed Himself
in No Space, allowing space
for the creation of
the universe.
The Creator performed
the original Tzimtzum,
in preparation for
the Creation.
Hashem, my G-d, created an empty space
for the universe, and there,
His reshimu (residue)
remained.
Thus, there was the Void where
Hashem’s reshimu hid. And
this sacred empty space
was surrounded by
the Creator.
-
Hashem allowed a small ray of light
to pass through the divine veil.
But this holy light, called kav, was
fierce and blinding. Through the
mystical process of
minor tzimtzum,
the dazzling light contracted
and became a tiny stream.
And Hashem blessed
the Void He created
with the holy
beam of
light.
From this holy light,
the universe
was born.
The Creator sent the holy light
into the empty space, the
dark Void He created.
And this sacred light was also
the original man named
Adam Kedmon,
a holy container of all
Hashem’s beautiful
traits.
From this divine light-
primordial man-
emerged the
sacred
emanations, the
sefirot of
Hashem.
-
And the sefirot, the Creator’s divine
attributes, sailed through the Void
and merged, and in an ineffable
metamorphosis,
the universe
was born.
Divine light flowed into the Void
and the universe was coming
into being.
The emanations of Hashem,
primordial waves of light,
penetrated the empty
space, and came
together, and
the universe
was coming
into being.
Divine emanations, the sefirot
of Hashem, merged and
united and were
separate too,
contained in
holy shells
called
kelipot.
The pure light of each emanation
or sefira was poured into a
sacred shell.
Thus, the sefirot flowed through the
kelipot into the Void.
But the omnipotent light of Hashem,
too powerful for the holy vessels,
shattered the sacred shells
in an accident called the
shevirat ha-kelim,
“the breaking of
the vessels.”
Divine sparks, netzutzot, sailed across
the Void, and they were scattered
and hidden in the new universe.
With the shattering of the kelipot,
Hashem created the world.
In the broken universe, human beings
exist to perform tikkun olam,
repair of the world.
Hashem blessed mankind with the
mission of mending the
splintered universe.
Hashem blessed humanity with the
gift of redemption, allowing
humans to help the Creator
heal the fragmented
universe
by finding and freeing the holy
sparks hidden in the kelipot
of the physical world.
Humans are empowered to
release the sacred sparks
trapped in material
husks.
And they are responsible
for restoring the
scattered sparks
to the Creator.
Enlightened by prayer
and acts of love,
humans can
redeem and
raise the
holy
-
sparks that fell
during the
shevirat
ha-kelim.
Aware of and connected
to the holiness of all
G-d’s creations,
humans can
unify and
reunite
the divine sparks
with Hashem.
In the end, humans can
help the Creator heal
the shattered
universe
and perhaps,
Creation
too.
Mel Waldman
(3 poems added 05.16.10)
editor's note: Here, a story of Creation brings us to the knowledge that we can repair what has been broken. Imagine, the Creator looking for us to assist with the restoration rekindles the hope that it can be done. We struggle for faith... - mh
•••••••••••
The whole Mad Swirl of everything to come keeps on keepin' on... now... now... NOW! Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, every decade, every every EVERY there is! Wanna join in the poetic conversations going on in Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum? Then stop by whenever the mood strikes! We'll be here...
Eternally Youthful,
Johnny O
Editor-in-chief
MH Clay
Poetry Editor
Thinking About You (above) by our current featured artist, Christian Millet , one of the maddest of the maddest painters currently coloring the virtual walls in Mad Swirl's eclectic electronic collective Mad Gallery.
Just in case you missed it, here's just a taste of the poetry we featured this week in Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum...
•••••••••••
Sugar
Sugar is so sweet.
He He chooses Sugar
But Sugar will not have her;
Sugar doesn’t like
Fat little children with dimples.
Sugar is so sweet.
Oooth.
Hungry comes to eat.
SupperTime likes Hungry
But ate all the tongues and teeth
For to chew the meat.
SupperTime runs out all in shame.
SupperTime likes Hungry.
Mmmer.
SlimHer picks a mouth.
SlimHer likes Big-Lipped This
But goes with That One Sowed Shut.
They’ll soon be good friends
After Dinner steals their children.
SlimHer goes with That One Sowed Shut.
Uuuzs.
NumbMumble gets born
To be nothing certain
But certain to be nothing:
A certain Nothing,
Fed and sleepy and farting then,
A certain Nothing.
Nnnal.
Taste has Here Before.
Taste is mannered in Then
But gendered and pregnant with
Proceeding and Next.
Taste stays still and hates it’s naked
Proceeding and Next.
Iiiwb.
Quinten Collier
(3 poems added 05.22.10)
editor's note: So much to-do, more than we expected, for just a taste of something sweet. There are consequences and choices beyond our control? But, we just want a taste! "Pick me, Sugar, pick me! I don't look fat at all... in the right light." (See more from Quinten on his new page among our Contributing Poets) - mh
•••••••••••
The Power of Word Usage
He took a dictionary and
Dug out a bunch of words.
They were long, unusual,
They stuck between the teeth,
Learned, over learned words
Not for an everyday usage.
abecedarian,
bibliopegy,
contumacious,
dermatoglyphics...
He searched and he found many.
He arranged the words in lines,
From these lines he shaped a free verse.
The poem looked very impressive -
Sullen academic kind,
IQ was bursting from it
In words long and brain breaking.
He felt sick but he did not buckle
Under the intellectual weight of the poem.
epiphenomenon,
fugacious,
gemutlich,
horripilation...
He wanted to be published so badly!
He cornered a friend and read him
This cleverly crafted poem.
The friend exclaimed "Amazing!"
And hastily went into hiding -
Extremely encouraging sign,
This must be a powerful writing!
Indeed, very soon it was published
In a serious poetry journal.
It is now on his wall in a frame,
He feels proud and self important.
idiopathic,
jackanapes,
Kafkaesque,
legerdemain...
Long live the power of word usage!
Irena Pasvinter
(added 05.21.10)
editor's note: Ahaha! I stripped off all my grammar garb (no one was looking) and jumped, naked-cortex into this one, bathed myself in vocabularic revelry. Yes, yes, I'm just a contumacious jackanapes who can't resist inducing my own epiphenomenon by putting my dirty little literary dermatoglyphs all over this one. Come on, folks! You can't resist this! Get your Power On!!! - mh
•••••••••••
Good, good.
Call me on a Tuesday
After the divot of weekend’s end.
When you ask me what’s new
I’ll die a little inside
And eulogize brightly,
Concealing the evidence.
See me on a Friday
When I can’t believe it came so fast
Pulling its wagon of endless weeks
Behind it
Making a terrible clunking noise.
We’ll go to that same party.
The masked ball
Where everyone poses
Then spills
Their insides on the sticky floor
Cleaning it wearily till Sunday.
Anne Potter
(added 05.20.10)
editor's note: Weekend warriors unite! Here is our credo to give "living for the weekend" the significance we knew it had but couldn't articulate. And, don't forget the rubber gloves and bleach... - mh
•••••••••••
Dirt Light Water
the origin of man:
of dirt and water and odd things
left alone after naming
asking for equality with mosquitoes
put to sleep for the inverted birthing
of wife number three. put into the world
for fear of potential immortality
--what comes after knowledge—
a cycle of debt and obligation
refracting in a mirrored circuit.
the origin of man
is born with a blood clot kicked by rabbit
dropped from buffalo carved from stone
born of corn from she-named earth
by the all-knowing indifferent sun
the origin of man
is carved pieces of driftwood
from the sons of giants
licked free from rime or
chaos birthing gaea
who created everything or
taken from the blood
of a sea-god for sufferage or
words uttered to a river
creating an embryonic sun
pushing life through dirt.
the origin of man:
hatched from an egg
framed by an egg
pervasive and eternal
reflecting skin.
Brendan McEntee
(3 poems added 05.19.10)
editor's note: Here is another Creation story from a different perspective. After all our wallowing in the dirt with mosquitoes and blod-clots, what do we know? Our debt and obligation; government gets the goods, Death gets the rest. Well done, Mr. McEntee! - mh
•••••••••••
Whales Don’t Walk On Sidewalks
Whales don’t walk on side walks
Nor do they ride bikes
In fact I’m so sorry
I don’t know what they like.
G David Schwartz
(added 05.18.10)
editor's note: Never thought about the likes and dislikes of our cetacean friends - gives pause. Perhaps we should have asked about that purple cow back when; might have made us more sensitive. So many points of view to consider... - mh
•••••••••••
Transparency
What are you made of,
mime with painted palms
and sweaty bare
feet? How much longer
can you take in the air
all that empty space, the caiman
leaves for you to breathe?
Frail frame, proceed
and tune the white organza
mesh for the screen-painting
your imagination seeks.
When the canvas dries
don’t forget to wipe
the crowded cell
in which you’ve
always lived.
Sergio A. Ortiz
(3 poems added 05.17.10)
editor's note: Maybe if we could clean out the clutter our artistic expressions would be clear, our communications understood. It's a rare crocodile that gives us that much space... - mh
•••••••••••
CREATION
Before Creation, the Creator performed tzimtzum.
In the mystical process of tzimtzum, Hashem,
my G-d, contracted, shrank, and withdrew
into No Space, in preparation
for the Creation.
In the divine process of tzimtzum, Hashem,
my G-d, made life possible, setting
the holy stage for existence.
In the metaphysical process of tzimtzum,
Hashem, my G-d, concealed Himself
in No Space, allowing space
for the creation of
the universe.
The Creator performed
the original Tzimtzum,
in preparation for
the Creation.
Hashem, my G-d, created an empty space
for the universe, and there,
His reshimu (residue)
remained.
Thus, there was the Void where
Hashem’s reshimu hid. And
this sacred empty space
was surrounded by
the Creator.
-
Hashem allowed a small ray of light
to pass through the divine veil.
But this holy light, called kav, was
fierce and blinding. Through the
mystical process of
minor tzimtzum,
the dazzling light contracted
and became a tiny stream.
And Hashem blessed
the Void He created
with the holy
beam of
light.
From this holy light,
the universe
was born.
The Creator sent the holy light
into the empty space, the
dark Void He created.
And this sacred light was also
the original man named
Adam Kedmon,
a holy container of all
Hashem’s beautiful
traits.
From this divine light-
primordial man-
emerged the
sacred
emanations, the
sefirot of
Hashem.
-
And the sefirot, the Creator’s divine
attributes, sailed through the Void
and merged, and in an ineffable
metamorphosis,
the universe
was born.
Divine light flowed into the Void
and the universe was coming
into being.
The emanations of Hashem,
primordial waves of light,
penetrated the empty
space, and came
together, and
the universe
was coming
into being.
Divine emanations, the sefirot
of Hashem, merged and
united and were
separate too,
contained in
holy shells
called
kelipot.
The pure light of each emanation
or sefira was poured into a
sacred shell.
Thus, the sefirot flowed through the
kelipot into the Void.
But the omnipotent light of Hashem,
too powerful for the holy vessels,
shattered the sacred shells
in an accident called the
shevirat ha-kelim,
“the breaking of
the vessels.”
Divine sparks, netzutzot, sailed across
the Void, and they were scattered
and hidden in the new universe.
With the shattering of the kelipot,
Hashem created the world.
In the broken universe, human beings
exist to perform tikkun olam,
repair of the world.
Hashem blessed mankind with the
mission of mending the
splintered universe.
Hashem blessed humanity with the
gift of redemption, allowing
humans to help the Creator
heal the fragmented
universe
by finding and freeing the holy
sparks hidden in the kelipot
of the physical world.
Humans are empowered to
release the sacred sparks
trapped in material
husks.
And they are responsible
for restoring the
scattered sparks
to the Creator.
Enlightened by prayer
and acts of love,
humans can
redeem and
raise the
holy
-
sparks that fell
during the
shevirat
ha-kelim.
Aware of and connected
to the holiness of all
G-d’s creations,
humans can
unify and
reunite
the divine sparks
with Hashem.
In the end, humans can
help the Creator heal
the shattered
universe
and perhaps,
Creation
too.
Mel Waldman
(3 poems added 05.16.10)
editor's note: Here, a story of Creation brings us to the knowledge that we can repair what has been broken. Imagine, the Creator looking for us to assist with the restoration rekindles the hope that it can be done. We struggle for faith... - mh
•••••••••••
The whole Mad Swirl of everything to come keeps on keepin' on... now... now... NOW! Every second, every minute, every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year, every decade, every every EVERY there is! Wanna join in the poetic conversations going on in Mad Swirl's Poetry Forum? Then stop by whenever the mood strikes! We'll be here...
Eternally Youthful,
Johnny O
Editor-in-chief
MH Clay
Poetry Editor
Comments