Sanity

I rarely see it

standing instead 

in an alternate field

settling, like a drum after death has cleared

or a branch of river rushing toward a mountain’s voice

inflamed

 

I'll sight the insistence

wander off

build my landscapes

into wilderness,

 

you are as near as the white shade that flees from the dark lit candle

 

separate as the day from daylight

climbing the apple of roads 

favoring warmth as predictable as our disease

faces unclear and uncomfortable-

 

your voice inside my soul rising

 

until you find your scar

no cure can drown its water,

I speak instead

in silence, in beauty will you know

a beating pulse that spreads in no particular direction

swirls out to wings 

and reaches down to the spirit, 

hurling out in our inner nova

 

crossing from miles as the camera clicks its aperture

slowly, as days fall into another

a single cup wielding our imagination

 

no god overflows from these droplets 

no mortality grows from conclusion

just a comfort, a simple need

a willing puff of angel exiting from

the mind

one moment

permanent 

then the next against the other

 

crawl down into your sadness 

leave this sanity 

run to your pace as it

melts over shade and time

shares one vibrant flame from want

then ripples out onto a summer's breeze

until again reaching a winter’s night

only then understanding

as the sun’s light 

disappears

Reviews

[DAH]

"build my landscapes
into wilderness" this line says it all, and one that I relate to
on so many levels.

I understand all of this poem as if I were saying it.

Fabulous, just fabulous!

Bravo, Poet!
DAH

[Perdition]

Just a hammer some street justice really and viola..Wilderness~Oh and a copy of Naked Lunch Again Congrats and must have been one hell of an experience. Did you meet him at CBGB?? Or a reading...just message..no need to add numbers to an "otherwise empty room" Vedder (Peal Jam)Ha ha ha..Thanks DAH

[DAH]

I met him at a reading in S.F. in the early eighties; I believe that he was eyeing my girlfriend. And it's my pleasure to critique your work. Keep Pushing! And, Naked Lunch, always ...

[Kesch (Finding Julia)]

WOW! Love your last two stanza's, very powerful and well said. You are very talented

[Perdition]

Once again appreciated. Thank you and looking forward to reading your poetry as well.

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

I have taken your advice here....the sounds in nature are the only ones that have existed....the flowers hum, the waters weep, the dirt crackles. Serenity eases soul. Masterful Joe!

[Kelly Scheppers]

There's an indelible force to your words. They carry a weight - like the inevitable lump that gets stuck in one's throat when things are hard to say. You always showcase the most evocative works, Joseph. Good to see you!

[Perdition]

A rare and true pleasure to have such talent in reviews as yours...the quality befitting the nature of our chosen madness. Let the lumps bear their say before being spat out toward the crossings of all roads finite or swallowed whole, back into the beauty and fabric we wrench against the clarity from our lives. Thank you so kindly Kelly and apologies for the delay in my pale shadow turned response.

[Danielle]

Wow! That was deep to me. Inspiring talented

[Perdition]

Thank you...much appreciated and aw shux as well...lol. A pleasure to read your review and thank you for the humbling kind words!

[barleygirl]

Once again, I'm stymied as to how to comment on your overall message, except to say that I love your writing & often read your postings multiple times, to see if I can grasp more of what your message is about. But sometimes, I just end up finding favorite lines or passages, such as:
"no god overflows from these droplets
no mortality grows from conclusion
just a comfort, a simple need
a willing puff of angel exiting from the mind
one moment permanent then the next against the other"
. . . and so much more! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Perdition]

Well most people just respond by saying, " what the hell is wrong with you?" but your way is just as good :) Thanks Margie ((Hugs)) !!

[Alisa Js]

...and in that moment of time, you realize you always knew.

Such a beautiful song from the innermost part of the soul, my friend. Tender notes of angel's wings, we can hear if we only listen.

I trust all is well with you in your part of the universe.

Wishing you everything amazing, as always...

Alisa ;-)

[Perdition]

I do?...lol. Thanks A. Sending you the same ;)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

her light disappeared to us 35 years ago...but i still see her in sunsets and sunrises...and it hurts...i see the flames in my imagination engulfing her...and yet she would most calmly accept them...and never seek vengeance, just exude the love she always did.
thoughts of her hurt often, but also bring comfort...your poem does both for me here.
thank you for it.
love the two lines of the scar and the water...wow.
j.

[Perdition]

That IS indeed the perfect place to look...sunrise for me mostly but sunset brings the divisional rain. Thanks Jacob.