What is a tree?
It is a cloud
of sticks and leaves.
What is a cloud?
Long pale roots
of vaporous air.
What is hair?
It is shadows
thrown by fire.
And what is fire?
A tree that grows
from the seed
of your kiss.
What is a tree?
It is a cloud
of sticks and leaves.
What is a cloud?
Long pale roots
of vaporous air.
What is hair?
It is shadows
thrown by fire.
And what is fire?
A tree that grows
from the seed
of your kiss.
Sunday, March 23, 2008 at 8:39 pm
You know,
for a comic
poet, you sure write
a lot of love
poetry, she said.
I’m actually totally a love
poet, he said.
And when you laugh,
it’s a kind of love–
though a little more scornful.
Monday, March 24, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Belz is a comic poet? Does he accept that designation?
Well, here’s my knee-jerk interpretation of this poem:
1st Q&A represents drawing pictures in kindergarten.
2nd Q&A reps late middle school science class.
3rd Q&A reps learning Plato in late high school or early college.
4th Q&A reps what we really learn about in late college/ early 20s, and it brings us back to things even more fundamental (”seed”) than we had the opportunity of learning as children.
Anyway, I like the poem.
Monday, March 24, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Whoah, Gregory. You’re dead on—down to the Plato allusion. All i can say is wow!
And yes, i do accept the designation of comic poet, especially as the commenter above has framed it, which i think is also dead on.
I’ve rarely been this gratified by blog comments.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 12:22 pm
interpretations (and knee-jerks) are my thing. I couldn’t be more gratified at your gratification.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 11:34 pm
b-z,
i really like this poem, and that’s all that i want to say.
Friday, March 28, 2008 at 7:25 am
I’m going to engulf my wife in flames. And it’s all your fault.