Having seen where this particular thread went, I'm not sure whether I
should (apologies for being out of the room) revive it, but:
Isn't it all about stories, at least for some - not necessarily the
religious? (My son, who knows more than me about narratology, tells me
definitely not, but we're having a separate debate about that...). A
good friend - and stern critic of my poems - seems in particular to
object to the poem about moments that at best imply a story and
conclusion. Or, as I tried to respond (comments welcome):
No Return
It was then we reached the point of no return
- now I can tell you so, looking back to where
the salt fell that I threw over my shoulder -
then and no sooner. We all have our moments.
I wash my hands of such moments, flick the drops
in prismed arcs so all is colour, is vague
until the drops hit dust, raise dust and disappear.
Truth cannot stay whole when pressed by such witness.
You ask for stories and I give you moments:
the instant of betrayal, without before
or after, when distance became departure.
No stories. Flying drops rainbow in the sun.
Cheers
Martin
> Ah, David, if only so many of those who follow 'the Book,' recognized
> this, too....
>
> Important stories, stories even to live by, but only if 'we'
> understand that they are 'just stories'....
>
> Doug
> On 15-May-08, at 5:57 AM, David Bircumshaw wrote:
>
>> Just stories, and much over-written ones, and fragmented, at that.
>
> Douglas Barbour
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
>
> Latest books:
> Continuations (with Sheila E Murphy)
> http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=664
> Wednesdays'
> http://abovegroundpress.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-from-aboveground-press_10.html
>
>
> and this is 'life' and we owe at least this much
> contemplation to our western fact: to Rise,
> Decline, Fall, to futility and larks,
> to the bright crustaceans of the oversky.
>
> Phyllis Webb
>
|