Since reading any poem in its entirety before commentary or reflection is also a snapshot of intention, one can see that the whole hangs together in an effect as much as the components. Therefore, the format here is the entire poem then each stanza with a brief comment by me.--T.K.
"Love is History"
by Tim Kavi
boisterous voices
sentimental
musings
as time
flowed
across
glacial
plains
history
stood
transfixed
in the
face
of nature's
lessons
it was
and will
exist
until the
next thaw
folly of
humanity
to think
they will
persist
the courage
to be
in uncertainty's
orbital
claw
is not for the
weak
but only after
birth
our choice
to speak
I recall
no less
can't remember
my last life
easily
the muses
shrug
how quick
he forgets!
only
the reposed
visitors
kiss
knowing that
love
is the
eternal code.
poet's comments:
boisterous voices
sentimental
musings
(Basically all of our speech and memories; two aspects of poetry itself. Loud speaking, significant, and even sentiment is present)
as time
flowed
across
glacial
plains
(spoken and witnessed through time, there is a strong geography, that is, even Nature seems majestic, seems timeless, as we assert through speech and live)
history
stood
transfixed
in the
face
of nature's
lessons
(even history itself pauses and views Nature. Is taught by nature itselt, that something even exists apparently beyond history)
it was
and will
exist
until the
next thaw
(yet even that timeless Nature and geography is in a fleeting existence, yes big events can change things that even look permanent; such as here we have a vague reference to Global warming in the face of a mighty glacier, the collapse of an ice age, or think of a sun going nova, or an active volcano. In short, all things are not eternal)
folly of
humanity
to think
they will
persist
(it is silly to think that human life will exist forever, likewise that we individually and species wide have immortality--at least in this plane of existence. where death seems to visit all of us)
the courage
to be
in uncertainty's
orbital
claw
(shades of Tillich here, also the Uncertainty Principle, where even electrons cannot be identified with certainty where they orbit in the shell of an atom. yes it takes courage to exist with certainty when even matter is uncertain. Yet we have no choice we allow ourselves to be)
is not for the
weak
but only after
birth
our choice
to speak
(we did not choose to be born that we know of, and can only even speak about it after we are already here--already born. No choice in the matter. Here I am in this body and cortex, in this world and organism. It takes strength to realize this and live anyway. Existential musings)
I recall
no less
can't remember
my last life
(this seems paradoxical. how can we both recall and not remember our last life? This is quantum existence: to be in both states of a contradiction and still exist. At different points I seem to think I remember, but do I really remember what I was once or knew? Or was I? It is true sometimes I think I recall, sometimes I know I do not recall much if at all)
easily
the muses
shrug
how quick
he forgets!
(even poets and poetry live forever in one form or another. the muses recall because they exist outside of time, and get upset that I can't recall. But really, I am saying that even poetry, like Nature, or a sense of selves--doesn't really live forever)
only
the reposed
visitors
kiss
(well we finally accept it, and love anyway. We decide to kiss (love) because that is what matters, really after all. To love and be loved is the more important permanence)
knowing that
love
is the
eternal code.
(yes, the loves, the kissers know, that it really is love that is eternal, and the code built into everything. It is as truth more than a computer program, but yet underlying everything in our existence. It is the essence of a pure love that precedes ALL).
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