Comments on: “Torch” — Part V, Page 4

By: reptangle

reptangle — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:51:32 +0000

When is “Bad Houses ” gonna be published??

By: Oneiros

Oneiros — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:23:10 +0000

Yes, the last two lines are a turnaround. So much openness in the rest of the poem leading up to that. The last two lines made sense, to me, not to fit with the rest of the poem, but to make its point counter to the setup – that contrary to what we feel about the openness of the sky, it isn’t. I was myself moved by this poem a few years ago, though not when I first read it. I feel it says “Don’t look to heaven for your comfort or your escape or your happiness. We spirits in the heavens are already here. There has never been room for you here. This has never been your home, never been your goal. Where you are right now is right where you’re meant to be for right now. Be happy right where you are.”

Kind of like “Imagine”: “Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us. Above us, only sky. Imagine all the people, living for today.”

By: despicablemusic

despicablemusic — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:27:13 +0000

“The terminus of prayer.” Oooooh!

I mean, damn!

“What does the sky reply” maybe not so much.

But damn! It’s all empty so it might as well be a dome stopping prayer as the endless expanse it is, that prayer just soars off into meaninglessly, endlessly. An event horizon, same thing.

Anyhow it feels really cool to me and it doesn’t fit with “The Heavens are taken,” which seems overpretty and tacked on. (taken? who by? Suddenly it’s taken by someone?)

This is a glorious poem that needs saving from those last three lines, authorial privilege be damned. Everyone else should choose their own vandalism, but in my pocket universe this ends “It’s echoing reply:/ The house’s walls say / “We are not your home.” Which is hack work on my part but frees up the earlier stuff to mean something I could easily cry over sung to a whittled flute.

Man I suck, but okay, I’m hitting the comment button.

By: Oneiros

Oneiros — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:35:09 +0000

Yes, it is an interesting choice of song, considering the extraterrestrial theory.

Look and remember.
Look upon this sky;
Look deep and deep into the sea-clean air,
The unconfined.
The terminus of prayer.
Speak now and speak into the hallowed dome.
What do you hear?
What does the sky reply?

The heavens are taken.
This is not your home.

By Karl Jay Shapiro, according to the liner notes.

By: Oneiros

Oneiros — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:56:24 +0000

Hm. You mean that song that made Vary cry, something about “The skies are full. Heaven is not your home.”? That was a song whistled by Shar?

By: Hmpf

Hmpf — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:28:16 +0000

Re: possible extraterrestrial origins of the Laeske: there’s also that song about exile that Shar is fond of whistling and Professor Zivancevic quotes to Vary at one point. Which does not seem to be original Laeske music/poetry, but is still an interesting choice of song, considering…

By: despicablemusic

despicablemusic — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:58:00 +0000

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALAN MOORE!

And also, Jose Villarubia!

Okay, back to your regularly scheduled aborigscifi.

By: Lethe

Lethe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:15:24 +0000

<– Still wants a sourcebook for the universe of Jaeger and friends

By: Oneiros

Oneiros — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:28:29 +0000

Yes, if I recall correctly, it’s with their throats. Which is supposed to explain their particular lisp.

By: reptangle

reptangle — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:13:43 +0000

How do laeske talk If they don’t use their tongues ?
Maybe they talk like parrots do; with their throats.
Or do they have a totally different physical apparatus to speak?