Ambiguous Ambiguity

….thanks h.d.e. rushing for the inspiration

Ambiguous Ambiguity

 

 

As a poet

I want to be understood;

to communicate

ideas in various forms;

to leave little pieces

of me on a blank page

in a journal of many me’s.

 

And there are many me’s.

But of the many,

which one is real;

which one less ambiguous?

There really is only one answer here,

one whole, one truth.

When asked, “Who are you”,

I can only reply,

ME.

Where the ambiguity comes in

is the diversity of the parts;

the ambiguous abnormalities,

the foibles, if you will,

of a journey filled life,

lost sometimes

in a dark forest of doubt,

but none the less traveling

along a path of self-awareness

that only really matters

if it is speaking truth to justice

and the liberation of humankind.

 

The voice inside my head,

the poet’s voice,

tells me

that ambiguous ambiguity

is nothing more than the agnostic’s claim,

nothing can ever truly be known.

This reminds me of that ancient caveman,

who upon seeing a huge orange moon,

cowered in fear and said “ugh”.

While others, stood,

looked,

and “sighed”.

 

N. Shange once wrote,

“what should a poem do?

It should make you feel.”*

 

Aztec Warrior/redzone 2.11.20

 

*Note: the above quote from N. Shange is more a paraphrase, but the meaning is the same. It comes from a poem she wrote entitled “What Should A Poem Do?”.

 

Additional note: this poem was written after reading h.d.e. rushin’s poem, “dana”. It was written as more a sharing of ideas on the question of “who are we”, “who am I”

Author's Note

.....thanks for reading
and again, thanks Dana for your poem and inspiration

Reviews

[Ruth]

Your poetry is always appreciated and amazingly articulate :) I think any Poet or writer wants to be understood but it is art's way to speak in metaphor through poetry at times and the understanding always arrives at a different point than intended for some lol I start a poem and it leads me elsewhere than I originally wanted to wander sometimes, not always but on and off...I have always enjoyed the poignancy of your writing and finds it gives the reader a different slant on life within each piece so I'd say your mission is accomplished to many people who read you :)

[redzone]

thank you Ruth, I really appreciate your comment and view on this poem.... and I know that when you say sometimes what you intended to write is not the same as what became the final version.... and also true that how the poet writes, the 'meaning' of a poem is often seen much differently than intended.... it's not a misunderstand as much as you suggest we all come to art in different ways, fro different experiences and points of view and sometimes art itself is not what it first seems to be.... some say this is confusion, but only if you see the world as one dimensional, and not as a rich tapestry with many laira and currents....

anyway, thank you again for walking in this poem and for sharing your thoughts Ruth....

[Sami Khalil]

Personality traits do come through along with style and voices. It is our stamp that is unique on things even in imitations. You are waxing philosophical great poet inspired by others. But I hear your thoughts too. Excellent and worthy.

[redzone]

love your comment Sami, it is appreciated and right to the point.... thank you for the warm visit...

[Sami Khalil]

You are welcome sir Redzone.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

great inspiration...dana always inspires me as well when i read him.....
we hope to leave a part of ourselves that is significant...writing that matters today and maybe hundreds or thousands of years from now...if our poetry can make another feel...it shows success, it feels success.
another point in this poem is the idea of how poets use metaphor so often...and then say "it's just a poem"
might not be so truthful...because maybe they are trying to deny that the poem is expressing the bare truth of how they feel.
another gem, Curt.
j.

[redzone]

I enjoyed reading your comment Jacob, I think you are right about how you see and describe metaphor as well as how no matter the subject it is our voice that is telling the story and our point of view and feelings transcribed on the page.... this is what makes art (of any kind) so important as well as dangerous.... especially dangerous for the powers that be since if we really do grasp who we are and what we are capable of doing to create a better world, this ugly society we live in would be no more.... Dana's poem was more internal pushing outward and still, look at how it inspired conversation.... it did "make us feel"....

Jacob, your comment and poetry, and your visit are greatly appreciated, always....