Headlamps
Headlamps
original poetryHeadlamps
.Incandescent pyramids
Like a pair of flitting arunachalas
Pull me through the sattvic caliginosity of night.
.
[Conical obscurity and lux intermingled]
.
{Time and its craven emanations}
.
(Death's blasphemic orb)
.
Absence and
.
Eternity
Glossary
arunachala - sacred hill located in Tamil Nadu, India
sattvic - pure, superessential, serene
caliginosity - darkness, obscurity, mist
lux - light
craven - cowardly
blasphemic - blasphemous
Notes
I've always found driving long distances to be a rather meditative activity (especially on mountain backroads, very late at night.) I'm finally arrived back home to Boone,NC after several weeks of traveling for the holidays. I kept going through these lovely mysterious patches of fog and clear air as I made the final stretch, and I thought to crystallize this moment, this image of the bright cones of my car's fog-lights extended through the patchy darkness. The comparison of the lights to miniature Mt. Arunachalas was stuck in my head.This may well be the shortest poem I've ever posted to Steemit! So, I decided to make a reversed version as well. Which one did you like better? Let me know in a comment! I included the glossary of terms since I am employing some unusual terminology here.
Quick Update
I also want to apologize for being less diligent than I'd like to be with responding to all of your great comments, as well as generally not being too present on Steemit recently, other than just to post/vote! Now that the new year's kicked off and I'm back home I plan to really dig in to everything again! I'm so grateful for everyone I've met and connected to through Steemit since June 2017 when I joined. You guys are awesome. I can scarcely believe the way I've been welcomed into the community and can honestly say the platform has changed my life in many ways for the better. I started off with no daily practice of writing poetry/blogging and managed to become more prolific and consistent than I ever have with any art form, writing a couple hundred (mostly short) pieces in the past 6 months. I plan to keep that up, as well as expand into other endeavors, so stay tuned. It's going to be an awesome 2018!
Headlamps
.Eternity
.
And Absence
.
(Death's blasphemic orb)
.
{Time and its craven emanations}
.
[Conical obscurity and lux intermingled]
.
Pulling me through the sattvic caliginosity of night
Like a pair of flitting arunachalas
Or incandescent pyramids
Written by
@d-pend
1/9/18
.
Photos
are of Mt. Arunachala,taken from Sriramanamaharshi.org
& edited by @d-pend
Thanks for continuing to post even if you can't respond to comment. I knew you from your poems. I know you need a break friend. Regardless, I will comment on your work as long as there is a comment and post option available. I'm on vacation too now. Welcome back. Keep doing what you love the most.
North Carolina's mountains are filled with life so the poem again may be speaking opposites. Those mountains are like the embrace of a mother. And the Arunacalas in the picture look mystical.
Thank you for including a glossary as I noticed in the comments some readers felt confused at trying to "understand" a poem. But I think it would be best to put the glossary toward the very end of the post. I scroll down to read the poem. If the words are defined right away then I have no chance to guess a word like "arunacala" which I never heard before today but really liked the sound of. I'm looking forward to your new poems and new sounds throughout the year.
Thanks as always for the wonderful feedback @mineopoly. That helps a lot. I keep on experimenting with different layouts each time and it's great to get a reader's perspective.
I love the mountains. They are so filled with vivacity. I feel like the polarities always follow me, such that paradox is always just beneath the surface, the puzzle knocking, demanding my attention.
I like how you put "understand" in quotes. I do not think the purpose of art is to be understood, but to be experienced! Yet, I like also to provide a bridge to those who see it differently. Hope you have a great day!
Beautiful and haunting and thought provoking! Tears falling down my face from these words - not sure why, other than you letting us into your deepest thoughts. Both versions speak to me - it's amazing that you can present it 2 ways! I felt like I was most on the journey(drive) with you in the 1st version. ❤️
That's awesome @violetmed! Thank you! I often think that art should convey the state of consciousness of the artist... this is interpenetrated with the words, they are only carriers of the vibration: even people who don't speak the language should feel something. It is like music, a universal communication that connects us. <3
I want to say that Steemit has also changed my life for the better. And I'm very grateful to you for your unselfish support from the very beginning of my journey on this platform. Thank you. Poetry I liked the 2nd option, it is more understandable for me and as always impressive.
I think this place has made a big impact on many of our lives! Glad to hear your feedback and I'm always grateful for you support and creative insight. Have an awesome day @magnata :-)
Hope you had great time during the rest and now you're full of energy)
I like the 2nd variant because it has the most powerful words in the beginning and it creates necessary mood and atmosphere, and readers can be involved in author's mood from the very first seconds
Hey @taliakerch! I definitely enjoyed seeing friends and family and am raring to go, full speed ahead!
I nearly agree with you and it is quite odd, because when I wrote the piece it was in the first variant. Somehow reversing it made it a bit easier to grasp, perhaps because the most complicated utterances are saved for last. It made me laugh that maybe my brain is totally backwards xD
haha sometimes it's very useful to have brains upside down-)) new skills or knowledge can appear)) who knows what hidden talants we all have)
Exellent explanation . Welcome back to our community my honest friend @d-pend
Thanks very much @dobartim. Wishing you even more great success moving forwards. Thank you for all your steem-promotion, creativity, charity, and community building...
Great one Daniel as always. Indeed the long drives can be super meditative and a great form of relaxation . Seldom u get bright ideas while driving. Thanks for your support last year and wish 2018 would be even more supportive ,interactive and inspirational. Regards Nainaz.
#thealliance
I like both versions, but the layout in the original version is more conducive to my interpretation of the poem. It's the way the words form a downward conical shape, which is odd because that is the exact opposite of what the words are reflecting.
I'd expect an upward conical shape to be more relevant - pyramids, mountains, your perspective from behind the headlamps - if that makes sense? But, the "drawing down" of the eye in the original version speaks to me.
I also do my best meditating while driving (which may or may not be a good thing, ha!)... great poem @d-pend, thanks for sharing.
Such a great poetry, I really enjoyed reading it, I wish you a great day @d-pend)
Thanks so much @kristinaljfom... I wish you the best in your day as well)
We need sattva, not rajas or tamas, You are right. So, many emanations but that's the confusing and nice part of the organisation of The Greatest Truth of all Truths...And Pyramid order very sacred and very strange...Unproved until now, it does magic, nobody knows why...
I like ur post
And ur photo
Good luck my friend @d-pend👍😉