"It is the habit of mankind to entrust to careless hope what they long for, and to use sovereign reason to thrust aside what they do not desire."
A rhinoceros is confirmed
grazing on the beach a crash
Of horn last seen in the forest
now snorts sandcastles tremble
The weird gets resurrected
the hoons spraycan the sculpture
The secret of freedom is courage
Rot the fish in coconut oil
Buy the seaweed souvenir!
One hand reaches for the light
the dark switch is always there
Imagination is another thrill
treading a trillion steps of sand
Gulls fighting over a plastic bag
most of it is leaving with the tide
I go back to my Thucydides
I smooth the pages of our crimes.
Oh Rob I do like this!
ReplyDeleteAt first it reminded me of Ionesco. Love this verse:
ReplyDeleteOne hand reaches for the light
the dark switch is always there
Rob are you referencing my rhinoceros on a Perth beach? Its a great poem even if it is about some other rhino on some other beach...xm
ReplyDeleteDear Mikaela, Ha. No. A mate in Perth sent me a photo a couple few years ago...and I made up the rest. I was unaware there were 2 rhinos on the beach! Please post your poem here. I'd love to read it!
ReplyDeleteThank you all for reading!
ReplyDeleteNot my poem Rob - my rhino! I can't post a photo on these comments so will try to put a link. I crocheted a life sized Rhino for Sculpture by the Sea in Cottesloe in 2014. The photo on this link is from Bondi but is the same rhino. xM
ReplyDeletehttps://mikaelacastledine.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/sculpture-by-the-sea-bondi-2014/
So beautiful and so great, Mikaela. My friend saw it on Cotts, and thought so highly of it that he sent me a picture. What a wonderful coincidence to find that you actually made it. (Please, please forgive me for defacing your lovely rhinoceros in my poem!)
DeleteSuch a wonderful coincidence... I am actually feeling quite a strange fizzy elation at the serendipity of it! He was damaged by idiots, not defaced, but squashed under the weight of a large drunk man who wanted to go for a ride and took a run up... but he is very resilient so we reshaped him and he went to Bondi then was sold to an American couple and now resides in San Francisco. I love your poem. xm
DeleteThank you.
Delete