THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

See notes for description...actually you might wanna read them first...

I.   Warning

A boundary of warning issued premature
to a lad settled on adventure
will plant definition in a red
corruption code of ketchup on a
post-picnic bib orphaned to the wind
like a fictional friend's home continent's flag

The vision-fielding velocity of neighbours'
aarows augment the sleep-shearing flares
of the father's eyes in the centrifugal
bullseye of his boy's current-green nursery
so close to swelling wide as a planet
now a marble left behind in favour of
a shrunken moon's spheric promise
of an otherworldly adventure


II.   Island

Subservient to boundaries of none but its own
the loner of landmass nurses its nautical mischief
through the employment of sensual labour in darkness
sizing them up to encompass a knowing glow
for the enigmas of bare-faced daylight

The premature thirst for adventure
attended to by the drink of sanctuary
poured from the skew of its welcome-mat shore


III.   Neighbours

Game and Disappearance serve
the Monarchy of Volume under code names
of Hide and Seek undertaking missions in the name
of circumstantial viceroys: decibels
scanning search parties through the x-ray of silent night
for the orchestration of the morn

Tweeting birds equate an army horn
rainbowing the insurgent black sky
with adventures in crusade-recital grooming

An airy beach of reeds is looming
in the coastal fog bracing to embrace
the route taken on the faith of melodic compass


IV.   Discovery

No labourer of mortal being beats the sun
out of bed not even the little one
succumbed to slumber in the bony shadow
of the instrumentally inscrutable contestant
to the claim of composition by his
solar brother's sacred nursery rhyme
insuring the rest and energetic rise of time

This adventure-hearted child heard no battle cry
in what the rivals of his bearded babysitter
dubbed The Sound Of Panic
just the anthem of a little conqueror beneath
a bucky smile of approval on the heels
of a swim befitting of an older lad but not
the aura of exhaustion conquering
the eyes of a goal imagined and achieved
and the smiling gratitude duet in return
from the dutiful and loving neighbours
lulled to their reunion reed field
in anticipation of a father's target met
with a son's accuracy in tow

Author's Note

Best known in recent years as the title of Pink Floyd's first album (as well as popping up in a few other places), it was taken from a chapter of The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Having just finished the book recently, I can clearly understand what drew the band (essentially the leader, Syd Barrett) to the title.

Now I've read a lot of stuff in my life - including five years of literature and history in university alone - and NEVER have I been brought to tears by anything I've read anywhere, till I got to Chapter 7 of this book. (And why chapter 7? If you look up my birthdate on my profile, you'll see why I ask that). I don't know...something about that chapter just resonated with me.
11 26 11

Reviews

[Frieda P]

Sometimes I have to drink you in slowly to not miss a single drop of your extravagant genius. I can see you nursed this one to fuition with tender loving care...you are a master at the abstract yet, you never beguile the likes of any & all subjects you touch. I had to listen to Pink Floyd after starting this read naturally. Your love of music is a big part of your soul, I think that's part of what makes you an extraordinary, talented poet. You shine through this one my dear friend...they should name a star after you.

[kublakhan27]

*blush* Those are incredibly kind words my friend...needless to say, it takes an awfully potent image to hit me this hard and inspire me to this degree, and I haven't written a piece of this kind since I wrote this one...I can't remember how long it took me, maybe a couple of weeks, but for your praise alone it was well worth it...thank you :) xo

[kublakhan27]

This reminds me of the style an Epilogue of a famous French writer... :) I once read...
You have such a way with words my friend, in combination with lyrical magic... out of many things, you're like a sponge, absorbing all what is particulair and that needed...
I like the style of this... interesting. You're such a genius... I need to save this one, to re read it a 10 more times at least. This one could make me think over the whole night this time... and you know I do like that.

- Elisa

[kublakhan27]

As always, you humble me with your kind words...I'm glad this one has enthralled you to the degree that it has...thank you my dear friend :) Btw, you wouldn't know the name of that French writer would you? I'd like to look him/her up if possible :)

I also haven't forgot your poem, and will respond soon...I need time to absorb your words as well ;)

xo this was exceptional writing.... :) I just can get lost in your cubed mind.... yes, I will research it for you, and mail you it soon... :)

[kublakhan27]

Thank you so much :) Don't worry, I get lost in it myself a lot haha It took a long time to make sure I didn't lose track of the story here and mess up the plot lines :P xo

LOL, haha, I know that feeling way to well ;) ... that's why my new way of writing is shorter lately ;) lol.... i got too lost in my web of words... :P but next to that, this was mega clever! xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Haha it's funny cuz I've been attempting shorter pieces lately yet I always seem to wind up slotting in different things along the way...my forthcoming piece is like that as well, and again it's taking me time to make sure I'm getting the inspirations down right, after intending not to go to outside sources and simply present myself ;) Keep writing my friend, you know I always look forward to hearing from you and reading your work :) xoxo

You know, I know that feeling too.... I so often write a long piece, and the challenge is to make it shorter and more clearer. Great minds think alike lol, (I have stolen that from you ;) ).... haha xoxo

[kublakhan27]

Haha and I haven't wavered from that belief in the least...if anything, my belief in it is being enforced ;) xoxo

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Pink Floyd, of course... I should have known! lol
The one thing I am sure about when reading your art is that you will surprise me to no end...it is always an adventure to read you! You have entwined an array of colourful threads to create such a crafty piece! I was entertained the entire time! You truly know how to keep my wheels turning...

"bullseye of his boy's current-green nursery
so close to swelling wide as a planet
now a marble left behind in favour of
a shrunken moon's spheric promise
of an otherworldly adventure"~ Bullseye indeed!... Fantastic vision!~xo~:)

[kublakhan27]

Haha yes, music has always been a chief source of inspiration for me, especially trippy stuff ;) Of course, works such as this don't come on a regular basis and it's something I'd like to do again in the future, I just need to find the right inspiration :) Thank you as always my dear friend, for reading and understanding :) xo

[KAOlmsted]

I had it on vinyl ;-) Obviously, the title piqued my curiosity, being an enormous fan of Pink Floyd, especially Syd Barrett (Piper, Saucerful Of Secrets, Barrett, and The Madcap Laughs all held pride of place on my shelf) ;-)

Personal note aside, time to focus on this incredible write...I pretty much dove in head first and found myself swimming and swimming and swimming and the more I swam the deeper it got...and when I emerged, lungs stinging, heart racing, soaking wet and shivering, I stood on the bank and stared in awe at the voluminous depths in which I had only just moments before been inundated.

In other words...Holy cats, dude.

[kublakhan27]

I still have the album but I never play it...I play the CD but the vinyl is purely for show now ;) I had a feeling the Floyd fans would understand this one even had I not used that title...it just has that mindset...I'm pretty sure this is not an easy read even though it's one of my favourites (those two things go hand in hand a lot haha) but again, it takes one to know one, and you know me...I'm glad I was able to take you swimming with this piece, though I didn't mean to put you in harm's way with such a strong current ;) Thank you my friend for reading and understanding.

[KAOlmsted]

d'oh! >.< I knew I should have said something about the strong current. See, this is how we complement one another ;-)

Always my pleasure, Steve, you know that. P.S. I peeked in on your photos today, I don't know why it hardly ever occurs to me to do this, and I found your adorable, real life face all up in there ;-) The Mommy in me wants to pinch your cheeks, the cougar in me wants to pinch your other cheeks xD

[kublakhan27]

Indeed it is ;) You brought a smile to my face with your assessment of my photos...actually I probably blushed...feel free to pinch away ;P Thanks again Kim :)

[KAOlmsted]

Consider yourself pinched ;-)

[kublakhan27]

;)

[quinfinn]

interestingly enough, i knew before i read this that the title was from a pink floyd album. that being established, let me say that this was every bit as stoned and abstract as the floyd's early albums. mr. metaphor is alive and well and in fine form. you slay my senses with your use of words. there is always a great deal of personal introspection and awareness in these writes. another stellar write from the pen of the great khan!

[kublakhan27]

Thank you so much my friend...I knew you'd understand where I was coming from here haha It is indeed a baby of mine and I'm glad it resonated so deeply with you :)

[quinfinn]

can't hide talent, my friend!

[kublakhan27]

:)

[Muse]

The Author's note was endearing. What an interesting way to deliver your inspiration. I was touched...truly I was.

No labourer of mortal being beats the sun
out of bed not even the little one
succumbed to slumber in the bony shadow

loved the metaphors!

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Muse, this one is a baby of mine for sure...I'm glad you like it :)

[Muse]

And that I did!

[kublakhan27]

:)

[MOON]

Unique style indeed , notes made sense Dark side of the Moon my favourite album.Such an enjoyable read.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks very much, Dark Side is certainly one of my top-five favourites :P

[That_Girl]

Your style of writing is very unique but that makes it all the more enjoyable... nicely done!

[kublakhan27]

Thank you so much :)

[quixotic_rose]

You really know how to write them! I'm all like.. hm I don't understand some of where this is coming from, then I look at your notes and it suddenly makes a whole new world of sense! haha nicely done :)

[kublakhan27]

Yeah I probably spent as much time on the notes as I did the poem LOL This one is close to my heart though and I can't bring myself to change it haha So I'm glad that you like it as it is :)

[quixotic_rose]

don't change it, that would be total blasphemy!

[kublakhan27]

Haha you don't know how happy I am to hear that...no joke :)

[quixotic_rose]

awe yay! :D

[kublakhan27]

:D

[afra]

i like the discovery part .....well done

[kublakhan27]

Thank you^^