Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point

So what do we think?
When we bother at all.
Of staying in straight lines?
Following the uniform in front?
Followed uniformly behind?
Up marble steps hollowed down by those before,
Past sleeping lions heroically carved to guard…
What? From whom?
Taken in perspective, all lines converge.
Until the mind - that willing fool -
Begins its urging. First quietly, in seditious whisper:
“Yes, this is real, real. Simply reach out and touch to feel.”
So convinced, we break away, slip beneath the velvet rope,
Past guards lost in stuporus dreams of cigarettes and coffee.
We know! Truly know what depth is there.
That hands may feel what eyes may see,
So we reach, reach,
Reach until suddenly,  surprised fingers are stopped.
Stopped short by the grain of brush strokes,
Stopped by the taunt bounce of canvas.
Then, oh then, there is the slow walk back
Back into place
Then there is the mourning,
Mourning that unnamed thing, lost.
Lost forever by the act of discovery.

 

Author's Note

All comments and criticism welcome

Reviews

[Laz K.]

I've read this a few tines trying to take it all in.

First, there's the realization of conformity that breeds discontent.
Then, comes the desire to explore.
The poem suggests that we re fooling ourselves.
Disappointment follows, and disillusionment.
Maybe, it all just seemed so enticing and wonderful in our head?

I appreciate poems that speak of some deep realization - and this one certainly does that.
The imagery used throughout is very vivid and masterful as well.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading and for your comments. I had the notion it was a loss of innocence poem pretty much.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Discovery kills something...ends a quest...ends an illusion. The thrill and the fuel are lost. We thought it to be great but maybe it turned out to be oh so ordinary. Perhaps, it's this death of a dream that is mourned....

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for reading and for commenting. Yes, the act of discovery entails a loss, a tuition of sorts.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

You're most welcome!

[Eilis]

Maybe it’s better sometimes to imagine than to actually know. Coming to the end of a book, I almost always go back to the beginning and want to begin the romance over again. The romance of discovery, whether it is of the self or of some grander thing. It’s the journey that is often the most thrilling. The not knowing.

Again, I’m impressed by the openness of this writing. There are suggestions, but you keep the voice distant enough that we are allowed to form our own conclusions. A lot to be said for that. It’s not always easy to hold back from leading someone toward some definite conclusion.

I really enjoy the contemplative, ethereal feel of this. Dreamy. Like the wondering itself.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks so much for reading and for your cogent comments. You mention that it is not easy to refrain from leading the reader to a conclusion. Maybe so, but being uncertain myself helps. I really do not write poetry so much as highly condensed stories that resemble jokes as much as they resemble poems.

[R J Askew]

At first I see a military place, maybe an officer academy. And I sense an intelligent presence. But that might be too obvious. That said there's something comforting about the steps and the lions of tradition. And the mind nagging away, annoyingly. Best not to think phps, easier anyway. Ach, it's a shock to think 'this is real' at whatever time we think it, methinks. The bit about reaching engaged me further, making me think, 'yes, we all reach and are all thwarted.' This in turn made me think I am on my own slow walk back through mourning for life lived.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thank you for reading this and for your comment. I visualized a museum or library, I have seen both guarded by stone lions. I visualized a uniformed school boy perhaps on a day field trip. I visualized his perspective and the ways that as perspectives change understanding changes, for better or worse.

[CD Campbell]

I think this is a gem of a poem. An exploration in what we believe reality to be. You're not suppose to touch the paintings though. You going to put out anything new? CD

[Delmar Cooper]

" You going to put out anything new? " I dunno, maybe. Got a favorite (non political) topic?
read more" You going to put out anything new? " I dunno, maybe. Got a favorite (non political) topic?

[Cherrie Palmer]

love the power in the ending. You may take a life tome to discover a thing. However the good/bad news is once learned you cannot unlearn such knowledge.

[Delmar Cooper]

Thank you for reading and for your thoughtful comment.

[Yari Garcia]

I am really enjoying your poetry. You are very talented!

Could you tell me more about what inspired this poem? I'm just curious.

Yari

[Delmar Cooper]

Originally the sound the words made.

[Yari Garcia]

Very interesting. Thanks ^.^

[Delmar Cooper]

Sorry for the brief reply. Having computer issues here. Originally the poem was much shorter just five or six lines focusing on a few rhyming words. There wasn't much context though and it was too abstract to suit me. This version is longer than I'd like, but seems to work. Jacqueline Murray's comment echoes my own thoughts about the poem.

[madeline]

I've spent the past hour or so reading your works and I've come to really love your style. this piece is definitely one of my favorites though.

[Delmar Cooper]

thank you for reading

[Great Aunt Astri]

A lovely reflective poem. But you know, Mother Nature don't draw straight lines. Also, scientifically all straight lines are curved!(Curved space). As for the 'straight and narrow', well I wonder how many of us don't stray?

[Delmar Cooper]

Thanks for your comment, and I suppose I do or did know that fact about infinity and straight lines curving and chose somewhere to forget it in my absorption with the close and finite. In regard to "straying" I am in favor of it and will so vote if it ever reaches the ballot.

[Great Aunt Astri]

I think I agree with you there!

[Donald Meikle]

you took me past St George's hall into the art museum and let me touch the rough feel of old painted canvas....................AGAIN!