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.

[redflutterby]

I'm speechless here...my brain can't quite absorb the full impact of this. I keep thinking of journeys never made or duties unfufilled for some reason. Not sure why. Anyway I'll admit this is a bit over my head. Probably need to read it a few more times. Ha...

[kublakhan27]

You've summed it all up right there my friend...some of those journeys are made only to come to dead ends like pranks. It even took Jack and I a while to wrap our heads around this one after we'd realized all we had said haha Thank you Red...I hope you are well..xo

[A. Amos]

I have to agree with Jacob review on this one, great work gentlemen

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it Amos, a million thanks from Jack and I.

[A. Amos]

You're most welcome my friends

[Lyn Anderson]

A wonderful collaboration. I am sure Jack will be back. He does this from time to time.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much K...I'm sure he'll be back, I just hope he doesn't rush it this time...the issues he is working with right now can't be rushed, and that is why he continues on this cycle of coming and going. He does pass along his thanks for the kind words though, as do I.