DE-CYPHERING A POEM
Perplexed looks and hesitant responses or none at all. This is what follows on the heels
of some poems I write.
So I decided to show you the being in a poem. This one. Perhaps you will find the presence in what I am saying...find enjoyment in reading a poem I have written.
That would be great for both of us.
THE MAIN FIGURES IN THE POEM
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ARGUS, A hero from Arcadia with more than the usual number of eyes; also called
Argus All-Seeing to differentiate him from others named Argus. Argus All-Seeing got
his nickname from his unorthodox number of eyes.
In a classical case of mythological inconsistency, some say he had four eyes: two
in the standard placement and two in the back of his head. Others claim he had
up to a hundred eyes all over his body.
This excess ocular equipment made Argus an excellent
watchman, a talent which the goddess Hera used to good effect in the case of Io.
Io was a young priestess with whom Hera's husband Zeus had fallen in love.
Needless to say, Hera was jealous and angry, so she changed Io into a cow.
(Heck, maybe Zeus himself brought about the transformation
to hide the object of his passion from Hera.)
In any case, once Io had become a heifer, Hera asked Argus if he would,
so-to-speak, keep an eye on her and let Hera know if Zeus came near.
Argus was able to perform this watch around the clock since he could always
keep a lid or two peeled while the rest caught a little shut-eye.
Zeus told Hermes, god of thieves, to snatch Io away. Hermes resorted to a clever
ruse. Disguising himself as a shepherd, he bored Argus with long-winded stories,
beguiled him with song and eventually lulled him to sleep by playing tunes on a
shepherd's pipe, recently invented by Pan.
THE FIRST-PERSON VOICE
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This person, a Woman, is dealing with dark on dark AND light on light
as conflicting realities in her world. She cannot see the dark and light as one.
What's more, she has faith in the existence of a "shade of grey"...
a catalytic consequence which will produce an orbital path around a world she has never known.
The world of sight. A woven, whole view of life as it is. Reality. Coherence.
The Woman tells the Watchman Argus she actively pursues his knowledge for mixing black, white AND grey.
Despite her conflict and constant derailments in this quest, the Woman trusts (shhhh...) Argus.
Obviously, Argus is an affectionate sentinel. He watches over her night and day.
She draws upon one strength for everything:
The Woman hears Argus's heartbeat. She knows he is there.
When one eye is closed or focused on the other work given him,
she knows he is there. Hears his heart as if it is her own.
Confidently, Argus observes that light is a rational place where dark figures can be seen simultaneously.
When Argus speaks she is listening with hope and trust and faith.
Argus surely is her friend and mentor. Her efforts fill him with love.
She hopes he can weave the All-Seeing picture. Ironically, she can only imagine.
What events auctioned off her sight so long ago?
He weaves everything in his sight telling her what he observes.
Yet she has no idea that it is this, TRUST, that frees anyone! to weave fibers.
What allows one to see there are many shades of grey.
hearing the wind before it blows; knowing a word before it is spoken.
Her gift is nearly mystical knowledge of sound. Sound is the thin thread she tenaciously grips; listening.
The Woman is stirred while aching to know it as Argus does with his Watchman's vision.
Will she learn these ARE the fibers replete with full colors in every hue?
He knows, however, one question remains. The proper materials are never enough.
But, who will teach her how to weave the fibers onto her thin thread.
The humble Watchman sees much more than what the Woman seeks. Afterall, he IS Argus.
THE INSIDE STORY
The web communications program ICQ™ has an "open eye" icon one may enable.
Two people can choose to be visible only to one another using this feature.
By choice, none of their other listed contacts are aware that they are online.
Reminds me of a guardian or Watchman or even an ARGUS
who sits with you
as you work or are messaging one another. Nice privacy feature.
Since Frank and Stella live on opposite sides of the globe they share both
day and night, sometimes "on watch" with one another for hours without
exchanging a word.
This poem, FIBERS, and these de-cyphering thoughts have been inspired by
one of these all night/day sessions.
People are linked by very fine threads sometimes. We are, by nature, looking
for ways to expand our connection with people who are important to us. We know
there are fruits produced only within friendship. ("Cows need friends,too" IO.)
Below is the inside joke about those men and women who are online explorers.
Indeed, you mights join us in our curiosities. Do you fear the gods?
"MARS AND VENUS CAUGHT IN THE NET AND SHOWN BY VULCAN TO THE GODS"
Martin Van Heemskerk, 1530
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