Voyage
Perhaps these three doors truly travel.
One abalone and salty—slick to the touch
as if satin-milled from the mouth of oysters.
The second, iron, its warped bars reaching
like bougainvillea flower or fragrant wisteria
torturous-tearing through the frame.
Third, a redwood tunnel, wind
whisperer luring visitors through millennia
into moist paths of bacterial lichen,
grooved with the springs of mycelium! Then,
whisked off to Sicily, perchance to Spain!
The language is practical—notes and syllables
the same. I turned to pass
through the ferrous choking giant,
made choice for another portal,
and could not find the iridescent door to return.
Nor a tree. There was no newness,
no grub to root out, none to chase,
and about face I returned—
where is my refund?
No doors found, no
forest, nor stars, only empty night.
Something happened,
not what I wanted, and
restless,
I ate.
9 thoughts on "Voyage"
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Very intriguing… A dream? A culinary experience? An extremely intimate exploration? Exquisite language.
Particularly loved “as if satin-milled from the mouth of oysters.”
Very interesting descriptions. They really do make you stop and wonder what could lay down each path, and then, after the choice was made, wonder what was really going on and what the choice actually was to begin with.
like the ending
Voyage- which passage to choose? And then I ate. Nice work.
Manny, you make me feel hungry. Today’s diet – a phone call to you and some cheese. You’ve posted some really great stuff this june. Love ya!
all y’alls loaded! love you!
funny thing EDL – I just ate a cheese sandwich and tried to call you, fam. give me a call! the cats are losing their minds and one is eating my foot.
Shew the voice of this poem. Love ” There was no newness,/no grub to root out, none to chase,”
Exquisite rhythm!