PERVADE TODAY

06 18 99

Hollowness, what brings you to pervade today?

There once were days of selflessness

when gracious gluttony nestled in its slumber

and its dreams relayed the open spirit of me

I thrived upon the open soul

and picked from vital sources

with a mind's eye of second-hand empirical forte

Now I must join the fallen file

Their empty line-up calls

The crystal-flapped velocity of time

seemingly dared us to take it for granted

In binge we ate our cornucopias raw

and sacrificed our jaws to sinewy slavery

We sucked some dry, we swallowed whole

but now we lick the bowl;

A taste of demotional practice

for the high and mighty

occupation for the rank and flighty

Whoever thought the lexicons would know their limits?

They hid advice and sought the artifice

The psalmists have all grown disgusted

Pessimists say they can be trusted

now

Who am I or we to argue?

Eyes they plod and still we still prod

with our progressive passion

We hit and run the paradox

of FM radio stations

Time will fly yet we insist

on letting the imagination float

The poor neglected ears

paralyzed and stale

register no connections;

no agent to honour the scream of the handwriting

Urgency of idiom will only come through in a remix

This is my portrait of hollowness

I wish I could convey its claws

Venturing through the curls of a mind at a standstill

guarantees a boring trip

Even the piecemeal moments of genius

are compelled to buy into the program

in hopes of a future renaissance

and funnel-free harmony

I tried to treat too much like nothing

now this emptiness feels stuffy

No orphans in this sober square,

conception's what I seek

On I rage into the grainy

Goliath grip of seduction

Something's not right in the magic

bellows a fatherless voice

He'll be in humble Hades' gut

before his thought's a star

And it will glimmer

It'll shine out there when it's dark

(like a blemish on a perfect record)

Smitten, the converted ebb and flutter

in the bowels of each new revelation

seeking wow in flow

exposed in response to orator's silken tongue

But that's a yackety past,

get on with history

A notebook lies unheeded on the cold headboard

enjoying its Appollonian role

in a fallen mecca for convention

Mid-June and nothing

The figureheads are faithless

In my sleep I hear their sighs

and with the doves I sympathize

What can't be trained will not pertain

No one care for how you got there

or the image process

End credit, bottom line;

here's your sign.

Author's Note

Written in 1999. Untouched since.

Reviews

[Rosalind Gale]

I care for your writing very much (though I do not review so often). I admire the complex image, or perhaps its simplicity. Also, the range and obscure emotion, on occasion. I do not change anything of mine, I write from the heart and soul - no drafts in poetry (drafts are for my history students) I sink into your work, like I do some others on here, too. Not many, Elisa, Corset, PoppySilver, Bongo, Rushin. Always with you there is a sense of mad singularity, yet I know you, I know you.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Rosalind, it means a lot to know that my words can click with someone on such a deep level. I write with the intention of never having to go back to something to revise. I'd rather labour over a stanza for a week than scribble one down and have to return to it. You do have a deep understanding of where I'm coming from. Many thanks.

[kublakhan27]

I agree here with Kenneth Bro. He has seen it very sharp, and keeps it simple as how it is... you not should change this one big metaphor, for it was written many years ago, and a part of you too that time.

You write so complex, and full of ways and corners of your mind in all beauty. I didn't know your life situation in '99, so that makes it more difficult for me to make a analyzing review, but I just felt this one dear Bro, and it has a high quality. Much love.

- Elisa

[kublakhan27]

This was around the time that I was becoming increasingly conscious of being "different" from the average person on many levels. Even though I'd been writing for a few years before this, it was by far the lengthiest and most ambitious piece I had penned to that point. It is my first attempt to try and sift through my emotions and try to make sense of why I felt the way I did. The support I have received for this piece has convinced me to leave it as is. It is still one of my longest pieces, and I think there is something to be said for the fact that I'm rarely able to produce such long pieces at this point in my life. I have a much better sense of who I am now, and it is reflected not only in the words that comprise my poetry, but how many fewer I require to get my feelings across. I'm happy that you were able to feel this piece sis...after all, it is totally me, and you may have learned more about me than you realize at the moment. Love always :) xoxo

Really great, you give such a big responce to the piece, as it deserves it, and is needed... for outsiders it's always really only a perception they can get out of it, but to get you know, much more through each and every metaphor, and honest meaing behind means much to me. It's nice you explain me, this piece was/is so important to you, and the first attempt to try and sift through your emotions. (it ain't always easy). Some write directly on paper (more like myself) others, cover it, and only "they" know the true meaning behind their words... poetry is such a great process, in all ways, psychologically, aswell on linguistic matter. Thank you so much dear Steve, much love too always xo

[Ken Simm.]

I am astounded at the multi layered plurality of this complex write. you have explored so many concepts and yet managed to compose a thing of strong and worthwhile beauty. That rides through itself almost. Again I am astounded at the lyrical beauty displayed here. This could so easily have become cynical or merely pessimistic but instead it commands respect in all areas.

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it, thanks very much.

[Mark Heathcote]

So well written some of it over my head with its intensity, obviously requires more than 1 reading, but good job.

[kublakhan27]

My style has become a little more refined since, but I like to encourage multiple reads as well. Thank you Mark.

[dw817]

⊰ℛℛ⊱
Wow, umm ... this sure covers a lotta territory !

Too much thinky all brained-up for me tho. Suffice it to say, true genius is seldom recognized. Those who have the most money and announce their presence through advertising are often recognized, however.

And - that's pretty well the way the world works, Kubla. While by definition you could be famous for your deeds, in truth it's whomever spends the most on advertising to let others know about them.

Superstars like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Kerli come to mind, where image is everthing. :)

[kublakhan27]

Haha Yeah this comes from a time when I was younger and more ambitious. Of course my cynicism was already well-established by then :P It is indeed the way of the world. I hardly listen to any modern music as a result, and don't go anywhere near the people you mentioned haha Thanks for the kind words my friend :)

[dw817]

As far as modern music goes, I like KERLI in this particular video,
http://bit.ly/1f8yRBw
read moreAs far as modern music goes, I like KERLI in this particular video,
http://bit.ly/1f8yRBw
Likely it's all the Teddy Bears, and there's a bunch. :)

[dw817]

Man I keep hitting that -read more- error. Just missed the last line,
Likely it's all the Teddy Bears, and there's a bunch. :)

[kublakhan27]

I'll try to check it out today; just trying to catch up on my readings now after not making it on most of the week :)

[dw817]

Kerli is definite competition for Lady Gaga. There always will be some female idol out there vying for the place of superstar. Me ? I just love all the kooky kinky costumes, the eclectic electric music, and the tripped out whipped out videos so I'm not too biased in that respect. :)

[Caradoc]

In all honesty my friend, the first half of this made me really hungry. That got me thinking though, as I a part of this caught my eyes. Isn't that the way of humanity? We're always hungry, we always want more, regardless of what it costs the world around us. As I thought about that, and read this piece, several songs came to mind.

"The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel, "The Dragon" by Gowan, and "Hunger" by Spectre General.

Like them, this piece is from a different period in history, with its own problems. Yet, listening to them today, reading this today, you can tell that the problems of the past, the attitudes of the past, haven't left us. If anything, they are worse today than they've ever been.

So, I congratulate you on this spectacular piece. Amazing word choice coupled with your unique blend of wordplay make this an eye opener.

Here's to over 21 reviews.

-Caradoc

[kublakhan27]

You have humbled me and made my day with your review my friend; there are no words to express my level of gratitude. It's been fun seeing the different interpretations provided by those who have read it. I sat on this one for a while obviously, in the fear that it may be self-indulgent. I was in the midst of that confused coming-of-age period that we all go through, and I think this one sounds like that. I like your assessment of it very much. Many thanks again.

[Caradoc]

You're most welcome my friend. Happy Halloween.

[Strider Marcus Jones]

A wonderful poem about one phase of life's journey. Excellent 100/100

[kublakhan27]

Thank you my friend for humbling me with your kind words.

[Kenneth The Poet]

Keep it that way. I like this piece. It's a great meditation on what it means to feel hollow, feel unaccomplished.

[kublakhan27]

I never thought of that before, but it does have a meditative quality to it. And I need meditation when I'm through writing this stuff haha

[Frieda P]

You make me dizzy with your dark brilliance my dear, this has me coming and going....where does it all end, where did it begin. Life is certainly a puzzle, is it better to be a dreamer or a realist, I still don't know the answer to that one. Your imagery is off the charts superb as always, one day I want to peer into your mind, but I'll be sure to wear dark shades, it's astoundingly intense in there I'd imagine. Love this one Benji! xo

[kublakhan27]

Haha I was waiting for you to get around to this one Mrs.R ;) Was I darker pre- or post-millennium? ;P At the time, this was by far the most ambitious thing I had ever written. After deliberating it, I decided to post it just as it was. I'm glad you liked it so much, and were still able to derive enough of me from back then and apply it to the current me, not that we're much different haha xo

[Frieda P]

Hmm hard to say Benji, I might go darker with this one, at least the newest editions point to sexual frustration also, ahem, now that I think of it...ha, it's all good so it hardly matters, just keep penning your magnificence! ;-) xo

[kublakhan27]

LOL Well...that's a good point ;P When I first started writing, I was already jaded enough that I decided I was going to boycott all notions of writing anything that pitted men and women together for any positive reasons. It was actually nothing to do with my personal background (at least that's what I tell myself), I just didn't care to write that kind of stuff when so many other people already were. I was going to formulate my own voice come hell or high water, and if I did that, then I'd go back to those things you've mentioned here. When I got there, I decided to move in ;) Thanks again love...xo

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Heavy...heavy, deep...I can feel the weight upon my shoulders. I like that you posted this, because it shows the way that your style has transformed over the years, and yet it still maintains your emotional depth and raw talent. Sometimes we wonder what the point of it all is...what we are looking for and what we'll do with it when we actually find it. This was a treat, my friend.

[kublakhan27]

I actually forgot about this piece ages ago and came across it the other night leafing through old notebooks. I kind of posted it on a whim to show everyone (and see myself) how my voice has come along. I don't believe I could write something like this now, I would probably over-think it haha But I'm glad to know it was recognizable enough to still be interesting to those who know me. I wasn't even sure I'd get much feedback on it, so it means a lot to know you and a few others enjoyed it so much. Thank you my friend.