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.

[Lyn Anderson]

It's hard for me to read this. Knowing what I know of mental illness, it fills me with dread, only wanting to enter that world. Reach the unreachable ...

[Einstein Noodle]

when mental illness touches close to home it is very frightening indeed :( when one first sees the eyes of that "stare" the memory is indelible ... Lyn, we are getting to be long time friends as on-line sites go .. i feel very grateful for your read and thoughts on this, tho it was difficult .. truly appreciate you taking time and reviewing ... God bless :)
E.

[Corset]

A very impressive expression that wonderfully describes this art piece, one compliments the other very well, I enjoyed reading this piece and the works of Dali are also fascinating to me as well, I'll have to look this artist up :D

[Einstein Noodle]

yes! Dali is phenomenal for me too ... your gonna like Yves for sure. peace and joy Corset .. thanks so much for stopping by ;)
E.

[Corset]

my pleasure!

[dead letter office]

Aren't we all a bit mad and full of dreams? As an amateur artist, I enjoy ekphrastic poems and surrealism. That came through here with the painting.

I found this nice link to the artist and his biography to share

https://www.theartstory.org/artist-tanguy-yves-life-and-legacy.htm

I had to look up stimmung, which is good, I enjoy learning new words.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for wading in Christos! and for sharing the artist's link ... he has so many incredible pieces says i ;) thank you for you review ... always a help reading them as we try and grow
E.

[Mrudula Rani]

Tô survive in this world we need reason and understanding... not every one born with those mechanisms... some have none, some struggle all their life to understand life, some Just give up soon! And some find comfort in their universe that seem beyond comprehension for the rest.very thought evoking writing, E. Brilliant.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Mrudula! so happy this drew you in enough to give it some thought ... can't ask for more right!? ;)
E.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this makes me think of how some want things black and white...clearly focused, no gray edges...problem is that life isn't that clear...and if it seems that it is, there is usually much hidden beneath the focus that is a tangled web...and we just have to go there to clear it out...that phrase "what we don't know won't hurt us"?
i don't put much stock into it.

i like this poem...a lot.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks jacob... i don't put much stock in that phrase either ... unless its about my childrens' "secret" lives as teens ;} i'd rather not know ... i'm glad you particularly liked this one ... when one puts the symptoms of Schizophrenia into a more cohesive frame .. it may be that greatness hides there in so many ways .. and that we all have times such as those .. just to a much lesser degree .. falling into psychosis perhaps is a bit too far :(( but as i think of what you shared .. road rage might be in a similar category eh!? i appreciate all your visits but am particularly glad you read this one
E.

[andrew mitchell]

Terrible to not have control anymore be it madness,or depression and or those addicted to drugs which all distort the mind’s thinking. Sad write Gene but a goodie!

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks man! sad indeed :( i feel pretty gratified you found something worthwhile in this one .. its particularly of interest to me ... as i think the general population doesn't have cause to consider mental illness much .. and many that do consider it an aberration instead of the extremes of very human emotions, thoughts and creativity .. peace and joy my friend! :)
E.

[Great Aunt Astri]

Yes, i think you have caught the psychosis very well. The falling apart, the squashed musical instruments blaring out broken notes, the surreal 'stimmung', the 'something fearful'. Very much like a river that has stopped clinging to the banks. Schizophrenics do have these sort of experiences (because they have a physical illness, an imbalance of chemicals, probably the result of a metabolic digestive problem, actually!) But I think you are right, the mental experience is, I think on a sliding scale, and any 'normal' person could have these feelings to a certain degree. Good of you for writing this poem.

[Einstein Noodle]

yes Auntie... exactly my thoughts and inspiration to write this one ... thanks so much for reviewing .. for me this poem is one of those that is important to me .. love and health dear friend
E.

[Great Aunt Astri]

You are most welcome.

[wredit.jordan]

The last line gave me chills. This is very well written with unique phrases.

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Ms Jordan .. so nice to have your visit .. confidentially tho..the last line is my favorite ;} that it brought those chills to you says it all as having someone close going through mental illness can be so frightening ... we see the person we know but there is another that "stares" back at times .. love and peace to you and thank you for taking time
E.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

So different E.-yes! Thank you for the journey into the abyss of this, for the enlightenment, and for the new vocabulary word! Having been a psychiatric nurse early on in my career, your words resonate with me- the stare of madness- “whole everything gone”- I’ve seen it many times. You so well describe how their minds unplug from the ‘Matrix’ of reality, while another world is bombarded behind their eyes. “Each minute thing...is of itself”- brilliant. Even the form of your poem, with brief, stark lines, pauses and uneven spacing, seems to mimic the fragmentation that schizophrenics experience. Excellent write!

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much for your thorough and sensitive review, Annette ... and for sharing a part of your life experience as a nurse ... having worked in the mental health area gives you spot on sensitivity .. not an easy job to do as a nurse .. i have to thank you for that ... again, i really appreciate your taking time and for a review that encourages me as a writer ... love and peace and joy dear friend
E.

[Sami Khalil]

This is phenomenal from an astute observation of a poet and learner. Mental illness does carry the stigma especially in a society where people are afraid of have ignorance of its causes or treatment. Sad that we are in the 21 st.century and still people behave in such manners. You go deep and true into the heart of the matter.

[Einstein Noodle]

exactly sir! as a society we haven't placed enough importance on it ... could be taught and discussed in a required high school class perhaps ... really great to have you review this one my friend... as always many thanks
E.

[Sami Khalil]

I do agree. You are very welcome, sir.