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.

[Island Hippy]

Aloha E, your words are so insightful and powerful! I love the way you show us what it looks like on inside, your accompanying artwork illustrates your writing so well. This entire work is fascinating E, and I enjoyed learning more through your author notes. Many mahalo x

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you Ms. Hippy .. so glad you read this one ..we have so much to learn from our "special" people ... your sensitive read is more than i could ask for ... mahalo to you too ;)
E.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I'll have to check out the book...thanks Gene for bringing it to my attention. Your poem gives great insight, detail and articulation to the stigma often associated to mental illness that we just can't seem to get a firm grip on. Great piece, Gene!

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks Kelly! the book is pretty heady ..at least for me .. but like i say i was able to glean the gist of it most of the time ... but i did read a lot of the pages over several times ;} stigma for sure ... many are bullied during younger years .. and feared/mistrusted in their later lives .. thank you for taking time my friend
E.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear E.... walking on the Edge... you can experience the fall...
however, gravity is a mysterious savior. Balance is a challenge,
and I try every day to walk on a straight path. My own father was
mad, so I am aware of walking a primrose path. t truly, Pat

[Einstein Noodle]

i hope your Da was non-violent Pat ..that complicates things a whole lot :( we are compatriots then in our balancing act ... i think taking up the challenge is what its about more than the instant one may actually be balanced ;) on the fence forever might get pretty boring :) love your comments ..you started me thinking some more
E.

[Patricia Wedel]

dear E... no my Da was not violent, but on the edge so to speak. He was troubled by something probably in childhood. The phenomenon of past lives may come into play. I am intent on enjoying my present life and I do believe in divine guidance. truly, Pat

[Einstein Noodle]

me too Patricia....me too!

[barleygirl]

Now that you’ve described what you read for fun, I see why I find your writing to be tangential at times! *wink! wink!* But I’m glad you took the time to give so much background in your authors notes so I could enjoy your trippy dips even more than I usually do! I love the idea of describing how this might be inside the mind that has cracks & slips . . . but nobody could do this the way you do. You have an imagination like no other & this poem shows it off more than most (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Einstein Noodle]

ooh my Barleygirl ...you have truly made my day with your blessings of comments ... reading that book wasn't exactly fun...it was tedious but i persevered to get all i could out of it ...isn't it wonderful how when the differences between me and thee are clear ... i like you even more

[barleygirl]

We are all somewhere on that sanity/insanity spectrum! *smile*

[Einstein Noodle]

amen! ........ :)

[S.zaynab.kamoonpury]

Wow deep and sublime poem indeed. Modern madness is a cool topic and u wrote about it in awesome diction. Kudos.


Hi, Pleez do write your thoughts/comment under my newest poem too, titled, "jumbo jet vs jackdaws and jays". interaction via poetry is my way to say hi poem pals always.

[Einstein Noodle]

nice to meet you... i will stop by your place presently S. actually the book is about Modernism and Mental Illness .. Modernist painters in particular but also includes other creative outlets and genius as a byproduct of schizophrenia especially ... so happy to have your review and grateful you found something of value in this one ..see you around ;)
E.

[KWP]

I read the poem and could relate completely - I saw myself in there - then I read your note underneath. I think we all have the madness within us - some like to tiptoe right up to that edge you speak of, while others will always stand at a safe distance away - and then there are those who cannot control this overwhelming feeling and it encompasses their very being. Amazing isn't it to explore the 'other side' 'the different angle' 'the depths' we have it all within us .... yes even the madness.

I particularly love the last line - for some reason it made me think if Heraclitus 'You can never step into the same river twice'

LOVE E - LOVE

[Einstein Noodle]

yes yes yes ... so gratified by your review, Elizabeth ...its spot on my intent ...thanks so much for finding this one ... its a treasure to know a bit more about your adventurous, kind spirit ...

[Ardra]

crystaline candles' light
whole everything gone
as love from the forlorn..

Love the ending.... Mmm..sounds like a very intresting book...
I am very glad you are back... :))
Welcome back...((hugs))

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much ..i appreciate you a lot ...good to take a break but better to return eh!? the book is (i am still wading through it) is very interesting ... way above my reading capabilities but i get the gist of it ... the connections made between mental illness, especially schizophrenia and modernism is astounding ... thanks again for reading ... the lines you mention are kind of the core of where this one goes ... love and joy
E.

[Chris Shaw]

I read your author notes before reading the poem, and found both so interesting. I hate the stigma which has been associated with mental illness in the past. I am just beginning to think that more people are coming to terms with the fact that it can happen to any one of us. I feel more positive about acceptance and treatments. The artwork accompanying your lines is so busy, disjointed and sharp against a blue haze. Your lines were also fragmented, I got a sense of chaos, but you final line really stuck with me. Rivers that stop clinging to the banks. That thought alone stopped me in my tracks as I pondered and spent several minutes wondering about how difficult it must be to cope with situations of unreality one minute and clarity the next. A very thought provoking read. Thank you.

[Einstein Noodle]

thank you so much .. the line that spoke to you is central to my intentions in this poem ...i feel joined in spirit with you as i read your review ..we need acceptance for those "special" people ... a better understanding that they are not so "abnormal" ... we all experience the same feelings .. the same fears .. just not so intense .. i don't mean to over simplify mental illness .. it dwells in places we will never shed light on ...but i think creativity and genius are very close to the line between "control" and "out of control" ..thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts .. i feel pretty gratified Christine :)
E.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Gene!
(sounds like hygiene … LOL!)
Mental illness is another world all its own, not always so easily accessible by the sane, or, perhaps, never.
I had a retarded cousin (now, deceased) who never learned to talk (only grunted, somewhat like a pig sounds) and had some very deeply odd, unpredictable ways about him as a kid, that developed into pure meanness and physical violence as an adult, along with paranoia, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. Plus, he was strong as an ox and sucked his thumb, even as a man. Unfortunately, he had to be institutionalized in a straight jacket until his death … even medications didn't work, except for the occasional necessary shot of sedative.
One might wonder what goes on in the mind of such a person … I got the most uncomfortable sensations when he would lock his stare on me.

Well, on to your poem:
Eye-grabbing title, great choice of pictures to set the mood, simple lines of presentation, and superbly descriptive metaphor, as though you were inside the insane's mind. Interesting, too, that you used a German, rather than an English word.
You've effectively poetically encompassed the described divisions and characteristics of madness.
In your own unique and creative ways, you've enlightened us with both poem and Author's Note … quite ingenious, really.
In the "techy-stuff" category, some of your line-breaks seem awkward, such as L1 ending with "the" when it should be on the next line, L3 "so", L16 "yet", L19 "the", and L20 "like". Also, I wonder if you might consider the final line to read:
"like rivers that stop clinging to their banks" … just some mind's-eye thoughts shared.

Whatever, you know I love anything from your mindworks, and as you know, too, My Friend, I may be a bit on the zany side, myself! ⁓ Richard 🤪

[Einstein Noodle]

i appreciate the challenges you have brought up ...i did consider "like" in the last line ...it wanted to write itself ..but that seemed too grounded for the poem ...for the rest also intentional enjambment ...but i will look at this one again with a new eyeball Richard ... my heart goes out to your cousin and family ..the violance and strength make reactions to their world dangerous ...so difficult to deal with ...many Alzheimer's people experience dramatic personality changes that can include vicious language and violence ... so tragic ... yes .. inside the head is where we want to travel isn't it .. as a compassionate society .. we may find delicate treasure there one day ;) one can only imagine what being straight jacketed for so long would be like :((( i really appreciate your thorough review Richard .. its very helpful :)
E.

[Einstein Noodle]

ps. the "ALL" doesn't really go with the next line ... perhaps more than the quotes and capitalization doesn't quite do it ..maybe a point at the end????

[Richard🖌]

My sharings are but mere suggestions, My friend.
This is what I meant to suggest:
Suddenly ceasing,
the encompassing, surrounding "All"

[Richard🖌]

Line-breaks, syntax, and metaphor are the heart of Free Verse poetry, but so many have their own styles, too.

[Einstein Noodle]

i know ... i like your suggestion ... its a good one .. i may make those changes but am waiting until tomorrow to take a fresh look at the poem ..thanks so much ..you are a very good friend ;)

[Richard🖌]

You, too, Gene … you've helped me so many gracious and grateful times.
Correct line-breaks and enjambments can make or break the balance and flow of a Free Verse poem.
As a teacher of poetry, I am more apt to comment where other will not, do not know to, or are afraid of offending.
My aim, always, is to help one better their craft with proper advice and suggestions … each person must decide to use them, or not.
Typically, they don't … LOL!

[Einstein Noodle]

ahahaha ...well...this is one of those cases Richard ... i took a hard look at it and tried several different changes because of your suggestions ... but my inclination to a ragged rhythm held ... ;) one can't mess with their muse eh!? new ideas and criticism are part of why we are hear as far as i'm concerned. one knows when it is meant to help or not ... a thin skin makes for missed opportunities and undo negative feelings ... poetry is subjective in every way i think ... love and joy and happy writing my friend :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Moods....they twist and turn and are very personal. From the outside, no one can truly interpret them, can they? The moods go from dark to light inching along the spectrum. A psychological thriller of a write. Excellent, E. Lydi**

[Einstein Noodle]

yes...i agree for sure ..moods can throw even the most intuitive person into a head spin :} the dark and the light are so real ...though we write about it as best we can ... the depth remains frightful at both ends of it ... thanks for stopping Lydia .. attempting this one has been percolating for quite a while in me ol' noodle ..wasn't sure how it would come across to readers ... thank you again for taking time and reviewing