(Image provided by DWB)
“A poet is a time mechanic.” – Jack Spicer
The poem sat
in the corner
staring at
his eyes
and heart
with the eyes
of a cat
and the body
of a lone
wolf.
Then it changed,
the poem, into
a dolphin,
trout,
gorilla,
shark,
monkey,
wild boar.
A horse,
then a camel.
A hawk,
peacock,
osprey,
owl,
sparrow,
eagle,
crow,
dove,
pigeon,
thrush,
another nightingale,
and now
an elephant.
It is undoubtedly the
(invisible)
elephant within
the room.
I can neither leave it
there
alone
nor take it with me;
the door
isn’t big enough.
Yet, I’m
in charge
of this elephant.
However, nobody
is really in charge
of this unseen
animal,
who is, truly, a creature
never really seen.
Its intelligence
and will-power
are incredible,
like a real
elephant.
But it remains
invisible, like my blue
butterfly, the one that
travels with me
everywhere,
hovering over
my shoulder.
And so
I toil, struggle, wrestle,
labor, study, save, caress,
create, rest, and renew,
daily. Daily life is
a struggle with It,
capital I, but I
struggling with the power
and the breath
in this way
am truly
my own reward,
every day and
every way.
William Carlos Williams
and Jack Spicer, the great
Jack Spicer,
were right.
A poet
is a mechanic
of time.
Dr. Dale Williams Barrigar is a poet whose own poetry transformed his own life: suddenly, and then gradually. It’s good enough for him.
Saragun Springs 
Dale
I see the Elephant as both a blessing and a curse, maybe as a “responsibility” for the poet to do right by it. That is as close as I can come to stating my impression, but I feel it clearly.
Once again, you deliver great flow that eases the reader along.
Leila
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Leila
This is a PERFECT description of what a good poem does (not necessarily mine): give the Reader a clear feeling which they CANNOT state clearly!
In “Not Dark Yet,” Dylan said, “Sometimes my burden is more than I can bear.”
He was NOT speaking only for himself: which is what makes Dylan, Dylan.
Thank you, LA!
DB
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A poem for poets, that’s for sure. A quiet little marvel, those first 25 words. Would make a fine epigraph for many another poet’s selection. “Poetry is a wolf watching the world”, wrote Jeremy Reed; your world-watching, Dale, never fails to open the reader’s eyes; may that blue butterfly stay with you. Also to mind, perhaps inevitably, comes Marianne Moore’s memorable description of poetry as “imaginary gardens with real toads in them.”
Geraint
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Geraint
Only a true poet knows the real value of counting words. Words: and syllables (sometimes). Thank you for giving my work this kind of close attention. No poet could ever ask for more. You notice the details, and real poetry is about nothing if not the details.
At some point, I made a conscious decision to write Poems for Poets Only: or, for Poets at Heart, which is almost (but not quite) the same thing.
The rest of them can either follow along or embrace their own damnation!
Harold Bloom talked about how true poetry will always survive everything. Your range of reference can be called downright Bloomian (in either the Harold Bloom, or the Leopold Bloom, sense/s of the term: or both).
Thanks again! Also, great commentary on Literally today about Kluger!
Dale
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Hi Dale
I really liked all of these shape-shifting animals turning into this elephant that only the truth can take away its power. And maybe not even then…
“A delicate blue butterfly for an invisible companion.” (not a perfect quote, sic). I once wrote a poem about a little blue buttery. Lost somewhere in a coffee stained notebook–hopefully still alive.
The elephant reminded me of the story by George Orwell. Elephants are such massive creatures and come with different meanings. In John Jake’s Trilogy “North and South.” The elephant means having seen the enemy in battle.
Your lean strong writing is great! You do a lot with your prose style. All of these images and the conveyance of emotion is awesome! It’s a style that I think is the best, and strive for in my own writing.
From the Indiana State Fairs’ Hog barn. Where from the distance you can hear, “Three Dog Night,” playing “Shambala.”
Christopher
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Greetings, Christopher!
Say hi to the Big Pigs of the Indiana State Fair, or already said hi! I saw Willie Nelson at a state fair one time. Can’t remember which state. Either Iowa or Kansas. They didn’t serve whiskey but I brought my own!
If I’m not mistaken, Raymond Carver has a short story called “Elephant.” And if he doesn’t have a story called “Elephant” (which is entirely possible and I don’t know because it isn’t healthy to google everything), then I was imagining that he did have such a story with such a title.
My poem was a riff on his title and it still is a riff on his title even if he doesn’t have one. No other similarities involved (except the simple language).
Your elephant references are excellent and add further important layers to my elephant.
I’m always amazed that they have their own graveyards they visit and they like to caress the bones of departed relatives and friends with their tusks. That astonishing natural fact had a little bit to do with “A poet / is a mechanic / of time.”
Thanks again, looking forward to your pictures and stories coming out in the Springs soon!
Dale
PS,
Doesn’t surprise me at all that you have a blue butterfly poem too. We have a lot in common.
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Hi Dale
Yes indeed lol. The next time we go we want to see the farm animals. I always feel sorry for farm animals.
Elephants are truly amazing! Great majestic creatures! Their funeral rituals really show the context of their lives. Not only huge creatures but living huge complete spiritual lives. People should always honor them. Humans think this world was made solely for them. it’s All get—all take–all destroy
I would like to read Carver’s story, or any of them. I have audio stories from the library but the narrator hasn’t quite grown on me.
Thanks! I’ve been trying to round up some stories.
I agree we do. That’s great!
Christopher
PS Kind of running behind my comments. Been roofing about everyday I can, Rained out today.
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“Blue butterfly”
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