This poem was first presented in a poetry reading at Japenese American National Museum, Los Angeles, May 19, 2002. [in Persian]
"We must uncenter our minds from ourselves;
We must unhumanize our views a little, and become confident
As the rock and ocean that we were made from."
From "Carmel Point" by Robinson Jeffers
I
The dog is near the fire
And the walking stick in the shadows
The eyes are full of smoke
The lips full of words
And the ghosts are wandering
Tomorrow we'll go to the forest
To see the waterfall
And I'll carry my walking stick.
II
The forest is full of firewood
Do not burn my walking stick
I, too, love the fire
With its laughing sparks
And dancing fairies
Where is my walking stick?
I'm going to find more firewood
III
My tent is small
I put my boots outside
When I put them on in the morning
My socks become all wet
I look at my neighbor's huge tent
and his dog behind the screen door
Grinning at me
IV
I want to wash my hands
And skewer the meat
Where is the soap?
The faucet is talking
To the puddle beneath
And a pilotless soap dish
Wandering on the water
V
The eggs are gone
But their shells are still visible
On the yellow grass
Believe me
Raccoons are not thieves
They are making the breakfast
As soon as we toast the bread
They'll be back with frying pans
VI
How many times
Did they sit around you
Telling their stories?
The campfire holds secrets
And in its grey heart
There is room for everyone
VII
"Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth." [1]
Once in this abandoned kiln
They used to burn the trees
And now out of the chimney
A green flag
Is waving in the wind
VIII
A grey boulder is praying
Toward the sea
With a big headgear
And a bending back
And the sea gulls overhead
Say "Amen!"
IX
My tentmate has a strange habit
He snores "Money! Money!"
But at the time of sharing the expenses
He does not show up
X
We have run out of wine
and the Una's tavern is closed
"How about a half bottle of Tequila?"
Our neighbors are generous
Tonight, around the campfire
We will read from Jeffers [2]
Will they be reading from Sepehri? [3]
-- May 29, 2001
[in Persian]
NOTES
[1]Matthew, 5:5
[2]Robinson Jeffers (1887-1962) A Californian Isolationist, pantheist, and ecocenterist poet who lived with his wife Una in Big Sur.
[3]Sohrab Sepehri (1928-80) An Iranian pantheist and ecocenterist poet and painter.
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Astounding!
by Ari Siletz on Sat May 17, 2008 05:30 PM PDT"We must uncenter our minds from ourselves; We must unhumanize our views a little..."
And yet:
"The faucet is talking to the puddle beneath."
What disobedient confidence!
good morning
by Paul sawyer (not verified) on Sat May 17, 2008 10:30 AM PDTThe poem of the camping put me into the day the right way.
There with you and Jeffers "confident as the rocks and ocean that we were made from."
Thanks, Paul Sawyer Pasadena