Maps

Don't remember if this one was a challenge, but it's a bit of a psychological piece relating to self-confidence and the scars of living.

 

Maps

 

Hippocampus

has no place in verse,

its meter adverse,

but the hidden treasure

of all measure and maps

perverse that burn and scar.

 

Hid under skin and deep within

the skull’s jellied brain,

the simple grains of memories,

grown into cysts

which turn our eyes toward lies

or wise and foolish thoughts.

 

Yellow dump truck, sand box toy,

at three was left and looted next --

sand lodges in anxiety

re leaving things behind .

 

At ten the carpool came and went,

the quietest one left alone

and then to grow

determination,

be reckoned with and not ignored,

one day becomes his guiding force.

 

The hippo pool of old events

a thousand sands of silent strife

leaves residue of dents and rents

in fabrics of his confidence –

his choice of path to climb his life,

his search for love, acceptance, wife.

Pursuit of all pursuits is smeared

with scented worries, fears and tears.

 

Remarkable to forge a life

from detritus memories all rife

with spoiled moments, unseen scars

that grab and catch us where we are,

but forge we forward, nip and tuck

at broken shards that teach us pluck

and force us raging to grow up.

 

©2007  David P. Eckert

Reviews

[Erin Hogan]

this its awesome. i love the flow its so... perfect. :) beautiful piece!

[Kevin Connolly]

This is the sort of poem I've always wanted to write, David. But I'm not clever enough!
It's like a work of the great masters, the metaphysical poets, whose work I could never get my head around.
Complexity is something we all aspire to, and you do it perfectly.
Genius.

[Christopher Tait]

Interesting poem. The lines get a little too complex in some spots, but that may just be me. Still, the rhythm holds true and the images are lush. Great job.

[Ashly Christen]

hmmmm. i liked this....i agree with barry, a lil complex at times but nicely done nonetheless ;)

[Barry S. Maltese]

Nice job. rich in depth. a little complex at times, but still gets it;s message across

[L. L. Jacobson]

I commend you for such honesty.
You are a true poet and you philosophize what I epitomize:
your meter like the stanzas as a way to learn from, grow
in love and feel its purity, I await to do the same; maps.

but the hidden treasure
of all measure and maps
perverse that burn and scar.

The hippo pool of old events
a thousand sands of silent strife
leaves residue of dents and rents
in fabrics of his confidence �
his choice of path to climb his life,
his search for love, acceptance, wife.
Pursuit of all pursuits is smeared
with scented worries, fears and tears.



The teacher teaches a student to teach himself;
and I know that your words must have been proved;
existence with experience and new applications of a different brush
to form something new.
Magnificent.

[Victrola Belle]

Maps, the title is merely the tip...but a nice hint to life's journey, heartaches, loves...
then the biology isnt forgetton in all this breathing....the Hippocampus right at the swelling.. burning scar -skin-...we are so fragile an yet..wow what we can endure!

''detritus memories all rife'' we hammer out meaning... then heavy handed time accompanies all of this, then we are forced to look ""force us raging to grow up.""

very cool poem, congrats

[J. Duran]

Awsome, touching, and also very deep.
Great read!!!
-J. Duran

[Ian]

thats awesome, pretty deep , i could visualize time passing

[Mishel Rosario Reyes]

that is so cool David, I use to work in a lab where they studied the hippocampus and it's relation to memory and neurogenesis, lovely poem,
---MIshel