THE PIONEER'S PATH (COLLAB: JACK AND KUBLA)

The spiral staircase teeters on its polished axis
as I weave my way towards the furthest star
carbon copied desires on an unending page
rolled and stuffed in my back pocket, mapping
each pie slice step, counted and forgotten of
crusted blueberry footprints…crumbs
falling through the celestial cracks…

I know there is a fate
lazing on a teeter on the ridge
of purgatory's granular outskirts...
Unionized circumstances weren't as sick
of Sisyphus' superfluous entertainment
as enthusiastic for the pending volunteer
fastened to the snaking path
like a termite on his wooden travels.
I met him on the way up
leaning on his rock assaulting
blueberry pie with deprived teeth,
acknowledging me with a sneer of good luck,
enough of it to pad his respite from
the nine-tailed cat of time.

Yet I ignored his splintered grin
of oak stained smiles and pine needle piercings;
pushing the boundaries, bending the railing
till it suits the non-needed escape hatch;
calling out in broken syllables,
pleading in harmonic choirs,
challenging comet echoes to return and
lead me on my lonely quest…seeking
not what I must have
but what beckons in foreign tongue...
intrigue of distant realms
on laughing longitudes
and flat front latitudes,
collecting each dimension in boxes carved,
shattered and left along the wayside
weaving worm hole junctions in time.

Horizons have never been granted
permission from sight to consult
my sister senses.
With hoisted hands of outstretched fingers
I play the summit like a row of keys
that yield no melody.
The faraway mystery of nautical shelves
under abstract skies concede
to proximity's curiosity.
A climb has collapsed to a crawl...
the hitchhiking omens have hidden their flashlights,
and as sure as I am of an ultimate apex
aligning eye level,
the default settings of my past stay militant.
Will the focus of a straight-ahead glare
reincarnate my focus as an agent of purpose?
Or will the lack of scenery in fate's void
instigate a long-simmering rebellion of the senses
my eyes cannot win?
Sight is not equipped for simultaneous stare contests,
a reality I never learned astutely enough.
The scenery behind the horizons I've seen and shunned
rejected the colors that could have been goals...

Author's Note

As of now, Jack has closed his account. I was not made aware of this until I wrote him to let him know I posted this...not sure what else to say at the moment...my friends continue to go MIA like clockwork...

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really like this collaboration...we keep running away from what could be our goals, maybe because we are so afraid of failure.

the imagery cries out that it came from two superb poets.

hoping jack will be back...glad you posted this very interesting piece, Steve.

I'm not going anywhere. and he will be back.

[kublakhan27]

I believe we are both dogged by the fear of failure, which is why we were able to make this piece gel as well as it did. I imagine he'll be back...he does have some issues that he must tend to though, and he can only take care of them on his own. Glad to know you'll always be here my friend...so glad you enjoyed this.

[s y e]

My two favourite poets come together as one, what could a girl want? Haha, you guys really aced this one... alot of meaning, especially when you read behind the lines and really rip the poem apart.

The imagery was fantastic, I am speechless... You've left me speechless. Both of you have.

[kublakhan27]

Haha I was waiting for you to discover this one Noodlebop...this is the only collab we've ever produced...perhaps someday we'll do more but time constraints are really what prevent us from doing so. I'm not sure we could top this one anyway...we spent almost two weeks putting this one together. I'm so glad you enjoyed it, and it goes without saying that Jack would be glad too ;)

[s y e]

I am so behind it's unreal. I decided to have a little while where I just review you and try to catch up. :) This was great, I really loved it. You guys done really well. :)

[Rita L. Sev]

There's so much going on in this piece, so many creative images to interpret, like a glorious puzzle. The read takes thought, much as the write surely did. Each stanza brings a sense of "What is next, and when will it get here?" A frustration so easily felt by the human soul. A great collaboration from two gifted poets.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Rita, I know Jack thanks you as well...it probably took us about a week to put this together and I think we were both feeling the same things at the time, and probably still are. It's comforting to know that people can relate to these words.

[icelandicblue]

I know this place:

I know there is a fate
lazing on a teeter on the ridge
of purgatory's granular outskirts...

I killed fate in my last poem perhaps I'll push her over the edge. I like the colors that could have been goals. Goals are funny things, they are the prize at the end of the obstacle course and reaching them is often a convoluted journey and by the time we get there the goals have changed. This is a great collaboration you two. We push that rock again and again and we just hope it's the last time we'll have to do it. I can't decide if I relate more to Sisyphus or Tantalus. Great poem thanks for sharing it.

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it and related to it my friend...the lines you've referenced are mine so no surprise there ;) I'm not sure if/when Jack will return but he asked me to pass his thanks along to those that read it. Again, I thank you for reading my friend.

[icelandicblue]

He sent me an pm saying goodbye so not sure what's happening but at least he left us with your great collaboration.

[Traci]

The power of words from two very talented poets is expressed throughout this piece. Took several reads to grasp the full meaning behind the words, nonetheless I enjoyed it immensely. Very well done, you too. As for Jack...hope to see our dear friend back in due time.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much my dear friend...I think it even took us a while for this one to sink in haha Jack offers his thanks as well...he has some personal issues that he has to attend to and hopefully he'll come back with a better outlook. Again, so glad you enjoyed it Traci.

[AYVID N]

"The spiral staircase teeters on its polished axis
as I weave my way towards the furthest star
carbon copied desires on an unending page
rolled and stuffed in my back pocket, mapping
each pie slice step, counted and forgotten of
crusted blueberry footprints…crumbs
falling through the celestial cracks…"

These words said so much to me about writing and the unending journey that it is all about...Great poetry. I compliment you and Jack the good read.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Divya, I'm glad that this one spoke to you...it is a meaningful piece for Jack and I.

[Frieda P]

Sounds like goals that can't be maintained, and two extremely frustrated poets...this one takes a few reads to grasp its full potential. Nice job you two.

[kublakhan27]

I never like singling out my parts of a collab, but the goals theme was brought to the piece by me. There is no shortage of frustration here I suppose. Thanks so much Mrs.R...xo

[Anand Sehgal]

Yet I ignored his splintered grin
of oak stained smiles and pine needle piercings;
pushing the boundaries, bending the railing
till it suits the non-needed escape hatch;


Kubla you are a genius with the power of words
***********************************************************************************************************************************************

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Anand...the words you've referenced are in fact Jack's words...as a collab I share all credit with him. Thanks so much for the kind words my friend.

[Anand Sehgal]

carbon copied desires on an unending page
rolled and stuffed in my back pocket, mapping
each pie slice step,

Imagery can't get better. bravo!! .. bravo!!.. bravo !!
*******************************************************************************************************************************************

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much Anand :)

[Zahra]

Wonderful poem, really strong. I'm sure jack'll be back soon with some great poetry

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it...Jack will always write great poetry, it is other aspects in his life that need tending to, but he's asked me to pass on his thanks to everyone for the kind words. And of course I thank you as well.

[FlamingPhoenix]

Another great piece of work, but what I find intriguing--besides your sensational talent--is how well you collaborate as a poet. I've now read several of your pieces that you've co-created with a variety of other talented writers. Your voice is always integrated without ever being a shadow or diminishing the light of another. Now that is something I find remarkable and rare!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much for the kind words FP...there are really only two people I've collaborated with, and this is the first one I've done with Jack. I'm not sure how it happens except to say I have a couple of dear friends and we are very much on the same page when it comes to everything. So glad you enjoyed this one, many thanks from both of us :)