Limbic: The art of falling apart

We whose hearts have been gripped by life, scoff at the idea of art as mere ornametation --Paul Violi

Summer is          a sky built of cicadas.

I can hear the heat

gathering in thin tymbals

vibrating to captivation. How 

many hours can an insect sing. Summer

is    a choir and there is only -no

where we can go to escape 

its fevered instruments cresting 

like heartbeats exposed 

to genesis. Unearthed bones of a poet:

do you see the way the hand

turned to stone in the shape

of a question mark. How can anyone

hear this world and not understand

the art of falling apart 

as anything but the sensible thing to do

Reviews

[Christine Anne Shaw]

Looking around and seeing what is happening, particularly in your neck of the woods, would certainly draw our attention to the art of falling apart. Many have, many more will. With so much going on it is difficult to be creative, and yet these times are probably when we need it most. I felt some loss of hope here Eilis. You have been missed. We are existing in truly troubled times. I listen now to the birds singing more than ever. Take care.

Chris

[Eilis]

Hi, Chris. I do feel that need to be creative and be close to nature—the birds being a particular source of joy, yes. But as you say it’s not so easy now. Life is very different in so many ways. And there is a sever that things will never be the same again. So wondering what’s coming is an additional challenge. Thank you for your kind words. Being missed is a great feeling. I hope I can manage more time here. I hope you are well there.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

"the art of falling apart"---I have perfected that....

but poetry helps put the pieces back together....and reading your work is a sort of glue...
and I need crazy glue to keep me bound to my art.
it is not just ornamentation or amusement...it is how some of us breathe.
excellent poem, Eilis...
one that especially speaks to our poetic hearts.

[Eilis]

I knew you would understand this one, Jacob. Poetry is the glue that brings everything together and helps me make sense of it. Thank you for the nice things you say about my poems. Poetry is my thing but it matters so little in my real life that it’s easy to forget how much it enriches me when I let it have its proper place. Thank you for reminding me. And for reading and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate you.

[light and ashes]

As someone who really loves summer and heat I started out reading this with fond feelings...but it quickly changed, and I saw that this was more of a desert of the soul.. I've been there. It's not a good place to be.

[Eilis]

Thank you, Allie, for reading and understanding the spirit of the poem. Appreciate you stopping by.

[light and ashes]

Anytime :)

[Beccy]

Brilliant title Eilis and a poem to match and I really enjoyed where your words took me.

Although we live in the oft time moribund here and now, we are by and large an optimistic and forward looking species. It's an attitude that I believe is hardwired by evolution into the human brain. Schoolchildren playing when I grow up, I'm going to be rich/famous/successful in love, etc, etc, being a prime example of this; as for them the future is always glass half full, rather than half empty.

Sometimes of course, optimism, (or overly positive assumptions if you prefer,) can have unwelcome consequences; one such current consequence being the attitude of many to climate change. 'Oh, it'll be ok in the end,' being their mantra; and I confess, that whilst I absolutely believe climate change is the biggest challenge our species has ever faced; there is still a deep down, optimistic part of me, which imagines that somehow or another, such a dystopian future will be magically averted.

In your reply to barleygirl you remark that, 'hopefully summer will not lose its carefree reputation forever.'

My reply to that (as an optimist of course,) is; indeed, it will not. :))

Beccy.

[Eilis]

Hi, Beccy. Thank you for such an engaged response to my poem. It was an overflow of emotion at the time. That optimistic part of me butting up against the realist. The duality of mind can really do me in sometimes. You’re so right about the optimism of humans. It is perhaps one of the most important tools we have for survival and progression, yet it also allows us, often, to be destructive with impunity. If there is always the promise of renewal it can be easy to degrade and feel hope that the degradation will naturally rebuild. Thanks for your insights. You helped me think about this a little differently. I always appreciate your view on things. Thank you again.

[Robert Trakofler]

I feel you in this write dear Eils with the golden stylis the problem with being an introspective and inquisitive soul is that the empathy we feel and when the world around us is so full of turmoil we tend to feel it tenfold :/ but the nice thing about it we are used to falling apart we become zen masters of fracture and in each fracture frey we rebuild ever more magnificent

[Eilis]

Hey, Robert. Wise words from you. I do believe that each breaking helps us to regrow stronger. Else we fail. Thank you for your thoughtful response. I always enjoy your perspective. Hope you’re well!

[Akshay Rawal]

The quote that's before the poem starts puts me in a thought, as how people see life so narrowly and how art mocks us for it. That openness, that closeted conception of rules that we deem as carvings on a stone really stops us from getting into more dimensions and understand this art of falling apart. Poetry, being the art of evoking emotions, cannot be understood by people who'd just try to find sense in everything. Some things would just never make sense, but we can still feel emotionally inclined to something that's as fictional as a story. Logic is just an instrument to make stories more worthy of investment. It's the stories that run our lives.

Thanks for sharing :)

[Eilis]

I love your review, Akshay. Sometimes writing (for me) is the exercise of that very thing you mention with letting go of the idea of making sense of things and just deciding to accept the mystery. Poetry is such a great tool for that. I love that you encompass the poetry and prose of life in your ideas and recognize the importance of both for the prosperity of the soul. Perhaps leaving a little more room for the art of poetry. Thanks for another interesting and thoughtful review.

[Akshay Rawal]

My pleasure. Looking to read more of your work

[barleygirl]

First, I had to google "limbic" & found that is a brilliant concept around which to write your message -- how we respond to what's going on emotionally, mentally, on all levels! As soon as I read the first line, it hit me that "summer" has been redefined forevermore. Instead of being a carefree time, this has been the ultimate summer of our discontent. Falling apart would be a logical response to all that's going on & I love how your last line makes this point with a bit of a snarky righteousness. Your poem makes me wonder if summer will ever be thought of as a carefree time again? (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Eilis]

Snarky righteousness is great, Margie, haha. It took me awhile to come up with a title for this poem, so glad what I settled on felt impactful for you.

Thanks, as always, for your thoughtful and insightful response. It’s hard to know what to expect for the future. Hopefully summer will not lose its carefree reputation forever.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed we can fall apart when motivation, emotion, learning, and memory are disturbed by the things we experience. At this time there is a supersaturation for some. There is the global pandemic on top of all the usual suspects of social hurdles, there is the global impact of climate change and all the uncertainties of the complex political morass we have to contend with. As always your ability to construct poetry is masterful!

[Eilis]

Thank you, John. I have always appreciated your insights and compliments. These are trying times for sure. We can only hope things will turn around. Thank you for reading my poetry. It’s nice to have you back.

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

This is captivating, it makes me to keep on pondering.

[Eilis]

Thanks very much, Kay.

[dukovan]

Tears, i miss home a lot. You just keep writing ok?

[Eilis]

Thanks for stopping by, dukovan. Missing is never easy.