Thursday, March 14, 2024

Prim Reclining Goddess

Prim Reclining Goddess
© Surazeus
2024 03 14

Heritage of the walking table claims 
prim reclining goddess on railroad tracks 
loves Teiresias of the hooting owl 
with visual passion of Olympic games 
distorting visions of computer hacks 
who program dreams with poems of Robert Lowell. 

Close reading of blank books that swim alone 
exposes pride that Julius Caesar twists 
concept of Heaven that glamors his brain 
to sing in harmony with rolling stone 
that Sisyphus paints red with martial fists 
because Teiresias loves to dance in rain. 

Because the Boston Brahmin rides black horse 
along telephone lines of naked voice 
though wise zombies study philosophy, 
Teiresias sails small boat down winding course 
from Mount Parnassus based on private choice 
to prove Death plays chess through theology. 

Unhappy circumstances of his life 
concealed in puzzling poems he never writes 
with rigorous examination of faith, 
Teiresias wears mask of his gorgeous wife 
to fool Robert Lowell who always fights 
against imperial reign of the god wraith. 

While driving Tudor Ford on asphalt road 
past the old South Boston Aquarium 
through bleak Sahara of swirling snowflakes, 
Teiresias visits Temple of the Toad 
who leads the dead to lush Elysium 
with honest hope to meet satanic snakes. 

Opposed to factories built in cotton fields 
where dancing skeletons worship the Bear, 
Teiresias lassoes idol of dead king 
who still laments bloody sword his son wields 
in battle to defend Apollinaire 
who searches in vain for his lost left wing. 

Traumatized by love of the eyeless ghost 
who dances with him gracefully through time, 
Teiresias tries to confess with proud mien 
eternal flame of love that burns his boast 
with promise to cleanse his soul of all crime 
then vanish in shadow of Melusine. 

With fierce ambition of his fleeting youth 
that weighs his heart with cruel elusive flame 
beaming too brightly from the stark abyss, 
Teiresias appoints me messiah sleuth 
under spar spire of the church with no name 
because Ishtar enchants me with her kiss. 


2 comments:

  1. Reclining Woman
    Fernand Léger 1922

    https://www.artic.edu/artworks/153701/reclining-woman

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  2. I started writing this poem when I saw the painting Reclining Woman in the background of this video where Helen Vendler discusses the poetry of Robert Lowell.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZuHv-R4NN0

    ReplyDelete