The Madness

painting is "The Furniture of Time" by Yves Tanguy

The Madness

Suddenly ceasing .... the

encompassing  -  surrounding "All"

 

                      

organizing relinquishes its gears so

edges draw a sharp crisp over-clear 

the focus 

there is something fearful behind it.

seen it on the edges

silly stimmung teases a cocophony

of strings and brass blaring out random keys

alluring temptation .... the darkness.

there will be  pieces 

inexorable stare pulls weight like 

an anchor........ magnifier light

crystaline candles' light

whole everything gone

as love from the forlorn

as life from the burnt planet yet

each minute thing ... is of itself

is of its own pulsing glare

inexoribly drawing the

Stare and madness like

rivers that stop clinging to the banks

E. 07/08/2018

Author's Note

I am reading the book "Madness and Modernism" by Louis A. Sass ..this poem is inspired by that reading ... the "stimmung" is a German word for mood or atmosphere .. the author divides it into these parts to describe what schizophrenic people experience: Unreality, Mere Being, Fragmentation and Apophany ... its an approach to understanding psychotic breaks as something "normal" which others may experience if certain feelings and mental states are intensified ... the author also refers to the "Stare" of schizophrenic patients ... a blank and unnerving stare ...hope you enjoy this rather different ride ;)
E.

Reviews

[LKBillips]

Wow. That sounds like a very interesting read. Your piece does feel fragmented. One thought leading to another then to blankness. Like being lost in a blackhole and seeing glimpses of normality through the haze of clouds. Really cool ideas. Thanks for sharing.

[Einstein Noodle]

and thanks for reviewing LK ... mental illness touches so many people and always any supportive families .. and it carries such negative stigma ... the book is one of my sons and is basically way beyond my intellectual capacities..but i get the gist of stuff like that and reading is a good challenge for me ;) i am completely satisfied with this poem because of your impressions ... thank you so much for taking time
E.

[Robert Trakofler]

My stepson has these issues I am very familiar with that look! After a long stint in south America he was repatriated to the states by a consulate after being homeless there for a long time. His grasp of reality was almost non existent when he first came home. (he is doing much better now) I like to think I can jump into most folks skin but his skin I have a hard time catching. My experience in reading this excellent write was I got a feeling of the end of the world the echos of what was in a symphony of specters. I then read your description and find i wasn't to far off of the mark. Very interesting expression in this piece good sir

[Einstein Noodle]

one of my sons is in that skin as well ... we have been with him through many ups and downs .. being swept away in the illness and becoming homeless is our worst fear .. so many fall into that situation and are not ever heard from again .. depending on the severity, of course, they need differing levels of help ... God bless you Bad Bunny ... your family and your stepson ..it does take a lot of support ... thank you so much for reading with your understanding and insights .. and for sharing your own experience .. the "look" can be very un-nerving at times ... especially for the uninitiated ... love on ya sir!
E.

[Shazbatt969]

A clashing of imagery and imaginary of madness and beyond, flowing freely, like rivers that stop clinging to the banks, Wonderful, beware the mind, it has control of the brain.

[Einstein Noodle]

i am so glad your review brought me back to this one Shaz! its one of my own favorites actually ... thank you so much for taking time :)
E.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Having spent my career in mental health and specifically severe mental disorder this hit a chord 'E'. I love the disconnected nature of it which reflects dissociation and blunted affect. The final line is a blinder!
(Not sure I have the intellectual capacity these days to get into something as deep as Sass!)

[Einstein Noodle]

i am so glad to have your review on this one for sure ..with your background and impressions i am more than more than gratified ... the book is one of my sons book from college .. he left it with me and i started reading it .. there is much i do not grasp .. but the links he draws between mental illness .. particularly schizophrenia and the modern world is something i think is true and relevant .. we all live on differing lines and cliffs ... that produce varying degrees of "inspiration" ;) i know that is oversimplified, but i am a pretty simple noodle ;} thanks again for taking time ..really appreciate it!
E.

[kitty]

Your words bring about fellings experienced but dare not try to explain to another. I can relate to visions or in reality rivers which have receeded the banks and wondered why. Again we have to accept that nature has to do its work and we should not question why but be accepting. Hope I have put accross my slant on things. Thank you for sharing your outlook in this poignant piece.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for your insights kitty ... my "Author's Note" tells where the inspiration for this one came from ... that book and having some close to me dealing with .well... let's say a unique state of mind ..i love that you bring all of nature into this ..what you say is true .. it is inevitable .. each everything doing its part ignorantly or not .. and many times big surprises all around eh!? ;)))))))))
E.

[kitty]

The brain/mind...respect it in every receptacle ~ be it human or animal...intricate in its creation has yet to be fully understood... nor cloned ~ not in my lifetime although scientists are trying. Our mental state are still a source that baffles.

[Cherrie]

... alluring temptation... the darkness. .
What a great line. The nonconjointed dream flow has no handles to cling to except for the madness.
Very enjoyable creation. Indeed.
PS
From what i've heard a little tinfoil around the head might help this madness:)

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahahaha yes...tin hats can work magik ;) thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts on this poem, Cherrie ... you read with attention and sensitivity .. not easy to stay with something with no handles ... thanks so much for your review!!
E.

[Stella Armour]

"rivers that stop clinging to the banks"
this picture is very surreal, i thought at first Dahli but this is more dis-jointed and the shadows are long like evening.
The madness is in a sort of twilght zone with the light far away.
I absolutely love your descriptive poem, it takes the reader inside the picture to feel the madness..

[Einstein Noodle]

Stella, I couldn't ask for more .... I feel so gratified that you were able to get inside this one .. its kind of a special poem for me ..thanks so much for taking time!
E.
ps. the line you quote is my favorite ;)

[Robowriter]

This reminds me so much of how I dream sometimes and in the dream I am whipped between different moments or places only seeing them partially not being able to gather enough information to understand my situation, yet every time it happens there is one sharp image that sticks in my mind and then when I wake up those images are all I really have left! It spoke to me in an interesting way. Thank you for the journey!

[Einstein Noodle]

and thank you Robo for sharing about your dreaming..i so relate to what you are saying ..it is so annoying to awaken that way ... with a feeling something important has been revealed in the dream .. but always beyond reach of conscious thought ... i hate that ;))))))))))))) so grateful this spoke to you in such a way ..it was something i was aiming at .. thank you again for taking time and choosing to read this one .. personally it is an important one of mine .. love love love and peace Robo ... see you on the flip side :)
E.

[Robowriter]

Haha, your words are filled with sincerity so often unseen in this world! Keep on keeping on E.
read moreHaha, your words are filled with sincerity so often unseen in this world! Keep on keeping on E.
Robo

[Einstein Noodle]

i sure will my new found friend ..and you do the same ;)

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

Thank you for the author’s note. It’s very informative and helped me to dive better into your words here. The abrupt switches, the triggers, the incessant clanging. I get a good peak into this world of sheer torture. This is a subject that has always fascinated me after I read that hallmark book on the disease called ‘I Never Promised You A Rose Garden’. Thank you for the book reference. I look forward to getting my copy soon.

[Einstein Noodle]

here you are again..thank you Dhara .. so very much for taking time ... i have a special place in my heart for those suffering mental illness .. i believe they are no different .. they just see and feel with very sharp clarity and inspirations .. not to oversimplify ... the book is pretty heady .. i can only glean certain main themes .. you might want to check it out from the library rather than buy it ... yes... sheer torture indeed ..your compassion shows Kat ... love and peace!
E.

[Dhara_Ditzy Kat]

These are very sensitive individuals indeed. Makes them prone. I’ll check out the book. Thanks.

[Re-Pete]

wow. you surely take us down a rabbit hole. for some reason this made me think of Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, etc. amidst playing with logic and fantasy. love the pic, wording and imagery. ending line packs a powerful punch. the breaks add to the "madness". quite unnerving to delve into that world. awesomely powerful piece. kudos ... :)

[Einstein Noodle]

yes...unnerving to be sure ... think you for reading with focus and letting yourself feel that ...it so gratifying to know how this one moved you Pete ... i think there is a rabbit hole in us all to some degree or another ... thank you for your encouraging review .. peace brother! :)
E.

[An owl on the moon]

What powerful depths of life you paint on this canvas. And your note sheds such light on the inspirations of every color. It is a strange world of madness, this garden of flavors and fruits so few can fully grasp. And you make that world more reachable, something we can know more, as rivers that stop clinging to their banks... I've already looked up Madness and Modernism... seems a vibrant vision into these otherworldly souls.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes yes yes ..that's it exactly Owl ...we all have it in us ...but our restraints are in place and work for us ... for those in schizophrenia the stops fail ... and the mind is opened up ... at least thats what i think .. and for some .. genius pours out in many forms of creativity and brilliance ... really glad for your read and review on this one my friend... thanks so much!
E.

[An owl on the moon]

It is truly a world yet to be discovered, the mind, the mind unrestrained. So appreciate you sharing this!