O Mighty Beyond the Chimney Yet Under the Bed - One Address To the Lord After Berryman's 'Eleven' Astutter
for Andrew
'I don't try to reconcile anything' said the poet at eighty,
'This is a damned strange world.' - John Berryman*
I beg (as did Berryman as did
also Job) Do not give up on me
drag me (gently) pull me (tug
tenderly) gather me (dew me
softly cover) do not delay
Shepherding (O Numberless One,
Creator of the Majestic Zero
beyond all counting, that I may
be beyond 'the Ninety and the Nine'**
so) woo me (though a cold bed I
am and make, though human hand
pen/paw at Thee O Mighty beyond
the chimney yet under the bed
yet (pillow me) pillow me plead I
'that my chaff might fly'*** and my
eyes dimned be turned toward what
glimmer remains of corners dark in
recessing mind, O Lord, would have
You take (mine) mind shake the
stiffness necked naked hairs numbered
over all the fading flesh of me
Now (love even me/sand-one-grain,
let Blood stain to Purity, what once
is rendered endures, that one moment,
may, where self-will wilts, (only)
You do what You Will to in me instill
Einfall****
You (spill then to me
in torrent, rinse, fling out drear
dark (say it Elizabethan) Sin
score yet that long longing for
You wrung: Look. Shake me out.
Drained (I am, for wanting that
You (might YOU) Force me far to
me Freshest Be
What hands I have cannot grasp
or reach (draw You in)
for now my tongue must serve
all that (or type or pen thin
ink (India*****) to (You/Not You)
convey impossibly
* - from the second of 'Eleven Addresses to the Lord' by John Berryman
[you may read the entire 'Addresses' here, copy and paste:
http: //falconwarren.blogspot.com/2010/12/eleven-addres ses-to-lord-john-berryman.html
** King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Matthew 18: 12: 'How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? '
*** a phrase from Gerard Manley Hopkins' poem, 'Carrion Comfort'
****India Ink [from wikipedia online] is a simple black ink once widely used for writing and printing and now more commonly used for drawing...originated in China, the ink was brought to India in the 4th Century where additional elements were added to the ink process.
***** Einfall - German word with meanings several, 'invasion, incursions (into) , ' 'clever idea, ' 'notion, whim.'
poem by Warren Falcon
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Bare To Such Luscence - A Catfish Mass
.
for John Berryman, his Bones, Confessed
Antiphons:
The original fault
Will not be undone by fire.
The original fault was whether wickedness
Was soluble in art. History says it is,
Jacques Maritain says it is,
Barely.
- John Berryman, from 'Sonnet ix'
Introit then Lauds:
Punctuated surprise,
hosanna of rivers
sounding with
or without gills...
I could not make it there,
that 'pointed conjunction',
nor up to air. I, Catfish,
soft sift bottom mud, give up
on purity, on flitting civilizations
lifted or pressed between
surface and aspirant spaces.
Done with all that, some
have had no choice.
Catfish choices differ
from those of the 'Windhover' Christ,
'dappled, dawn drawn' though they be
(Hopkins implicate flights of resurrection) .
'Stead, Berryman, without art or Maritain,
out leapt his sonnets from sonic
height-bridge to river-fells and missed,
the fool, one last scansion - dirty trick -
'hisself, too, hit, Bones sans pomes,
hard mud, perhaps one foot or his
beard delicately dipped
in paginated river'.
Catfish Homily:
Witless old mud spawn, widest mouth,
no lips to speak of, pulled greedily from
black water to shore, there's a bark in
air that old Catfish makes in punctuated
protest at too much light or is it, rather,
ecstasy, final vision gasped dimly seen
in depths, hinted upon surfaces,
Platonic shadow plays portending?
Is it the latter, sparks of praise to what
is finally seen at the end, a life mucked
and mired in obfuscated fundaments?
Eucharist 1965:
Fate, then, heavy in a boy's hand
hoists dead weight to a nail on a tree.
His knife scores firm flesh yielding
beneath freshly limp gills - there is an
instrument made just for this, pincher-pliers
for catfish skin - he grips and tears,
uses his weight down-stripping smoothly
bare to such luscence little ribs of roseate
flesh.
Only the overly large head, the ugly face
whiskered within gilded monstrance,
remain pure to form, thin-lipped and
mocking, restrained by depth pressures,
sustained on surface trash, dead things
that sink down it's treasures.
Tenderly sing, then, to a nail,
to a boy's blood catechism -
hands, minds, are meant
to be stained, mercy's quality
unstrained neither by will nor gill.
Scavenging flocks gladly fill their
gullets inhaling entrails tossed
in supplicant bins.
In unison Gregorian they scream:
There is a nail for me
plain, a chorus of barks** -
splintered lips
punctuated surprise,
glossolalia of rivers
now given weight.
One can only will
praise to 'The End',
and spill, post-pliers,
one's silken guts in offering.
**A catfish when brought to shore barks, a rasping, barking discharge of air.
**************************
[The poet's brief commentary about 'Bare To Such Luscence - A Catfish Mass':
Thought one might be informed of my inner dispositions, theologically and 'Other-wise', by this piece in progress...it refers to John Berryman, one of my poetic masters who, brilliant, alcoholic, tried Grace and tried out Grace - Grace never tires though we do and sometimes expire seeking for it - took a leap off a boozy bridge, a true 'whiskey priest' to Poesy and That which he praised and bruised to purple if not completed purpose...the Catfish is referent to my southern roots and the Fundamentalist 'perch' (stance and fish!) which can n'ere be rooted out of me no matter the plier-pinchers...
Also, poem refers to Gerard Manley Hopkins, his poem, 'The Windhover' which is one of his most praised...a phrase, 'dappled dawn drawn Falcon', of course inflates me, Falcon, to the elegant and predator Christ he sings hymns to, 'Windhover -Wingedhunger' for souls if not for bodies which Lord Death takes good care of.
...I've learned to be brutal in editing my poems but, alas, not my sins and both deserve further 'edits' now and to come...thus the universe will spill my guts in the end from slimy rooftop perches of enthroned roof dwellers.
In spite of guilt I still praise...]
poem by Warren Falcon
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India
India, India, India
India, India, clarified butter from the holy cow
India, India, India
I'm a pauper bereft of spiritual vision
Looking for a guru such a decision
India, India, India
Clarified butter from the holy cow
India, India, India
I'm a conscious consumer
but there's nothing to consume
Lotus flowers are still in bloom in
India, India, India
India, India, clarified butter from the holy cow
India, India, India
India, India
India, India
song performed by by X-Ray Spex
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An Only Begotten Son
Joseph and Mary
your son Isaiah 9: 6-7
is only first born Matthew 1: 16
without original sin
human stain
of Adam and Eve Genesis 3: 1-18
only child
born without
original sin Matthew 20: 28
an immaculate Matthew 1: 18
conception Matthew 1: 23
awaited virgin birth Matthew 1: 25
third perfect
human being
second Adam Hebrews 7: 28
only perfect soul
tempted by sin
that did not fall Mark 1: 13
God incarnate
in flesh
our long promised John 1: 14
Messiah born John 1: 41-42
into the world
in Bethlehem Matthew 2: 1
Adam made by
God’s own hands
shaped in red clay
God breathed breath
of life into Adam
spark of life living soul Genesis 2: 7
Eve rib taken
from Adam in sleep
flesh of his flesh
soul of his soul
God created first man
God created first woman Genesis 2: 20-23
in the beginning
was the Word
the Word was with God John 1: 1
the Word was a God
all things came into
existence through him
apart from him
not even one thing
came into existence John 1: 1-3
Lord Jesus Christ John 20; 28
Our Lord and Saviour Acts 13: 23
The Blood of the Lamb John 1: 29
For God
loved the world
so much
that he sent
his only
begotten son John 3: 16
as a ransom
sacrifice for our sin 1Timothy 2: 6
to save the world John 3: 17
so that all people
exercising faith in him
would not be judged John 3: 18
but be saved
given eternal life
for there is one God
and one mediator
between God and men
a man Christ Jesus 1Timothy 2: 5
who said
I am the way
the truth
and the life
and no one
comes to God
except through me John 14: 6
poem by Terence George Craddock
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We must travel in the direction of our fear.
quote by John Berryman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The artist is extremely lucky who is presented with the worst possible ordeal which will not actually kill him. At that point, he's in business.
quote by John Berryman
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On Finding the The Holy Bible
O God,
If I had found the bible earlier,
How much better it would have been for me!
I wouldn’t have been the kind of guy I’d been
In yester-years, when I was just a lad;
If I had found the bible earlier,
I could have been a much better person
Than what I am just now, in middle-age!
Anyway, Lord, I’m happy I had found
The sacred book at least now; O help me
To read each word and every line clearly
And understand its meaning properly;
And follow instructions given by You,
All through the rest of my life religiously.
And spread the Gospel to the world of men
Remaining ignorant of the one God,
The one, living, Most high and Creator
Of Universe; of things known and unknown.
Whose love alone has given us human form;
With soul and semblance to His own image!
We live on earth and every moment passed,
All by Your kindness, blessings, love and care.
God, help me remember the lines by heart,
Reproduce them spontaneously for life,
So that, I can never sin anymore,
Nor go astray from the Road to Heaven!
O Lord,
The Holy Bible is my food and drink
To my soul, long athirst and hungry;
And yearning for peace and eternal rest,
And freedom from a mad, material world!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 12-6-2006
poem by John Celes
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Soul-care Prayer!
Release my soul from devils’ grip, O Lord!
And give me peace and health of mind and heart;
Remove diseases of my body fast,
O Holy Spirit, come and dwell in me!
Restore my piety and love of Thee,
And free me from all temptations henceforth;
Remind me of thy love and forgiveness,
And let me live for Thee in servitude.
Rebuke me Lord when I dare go astray;
But take my earthly burdens and my woes;
Renew my soul with constant grace, O God,
I want to walk with Thee eternally!
God, guide my purified soul to Heaven-
Abode of holiness from whence it came;
Give me no chance to tarnish soul again,
Shepherd me Lord, though I be your lost sheep!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 9-15-2006
poem by John Celes
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What Is Allowed Lace Of Vision
[the opening line is by John Berryman's]
Childness let's have us honey,
flame intended, names smeared
upon the glass, an accidental
pane, hands touching it delicate
as trespass, what is allowed
lace of vision.
poem by Warren Falcon
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Bats have no bankers and they do not drink and cannot be arrested and pay no tax and, in general, bats have it made.
quote by John Berryman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cricket World Bows Before Sachin, India Bows Before Bangladesh
The much awaited century
Of this centuary fructified at last
When Sachin flicked a ball
On the leg side
And ran, nay walked, his
Hundredth run again Bangladesh for the first time
The celebration knew no bounds
The President and the Prime Minister of India
Are among those who joined
The cricket world to congratulate
Sachin on this feat
But, as an Indian
I felt it was a let down
For Team India
As it suffered a defeat
At the hands of an opponent
Who are a reasonably new entry
Into International Cricket
Many would get angry with me
When I say
That Sachin's hundredth hundred was
Only responsible for this defeat
He might have played well
But, definite he played very slow
Probably, keeping in mind
The much talked about century of his
It was not an one dayer he played
He was inching and inching towards his century
He, definitely, performed a feat
But paved way, in the process a defeat
True, cricketing world has reasons
To applaude him
But, Team India has stronger reasons
To fault him
Sachin blasted, really? , his century
And Bangladesh blasted India
It was Sachin's gain
It was Team India's pain
poem by Bashyam Narayanan
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This Is Your Day
More precious souls are lost each day;
Souls happen to get saved some way;
Nevertheless, we can’t delay;
Let’s show the world that Christ’s the Way!
Good souls are going too, astray;
Let’s hold the demons all at bay;
Let Gospel word reach ears who say:
‘This Lent, let me amend my way! ’
‘Reconcile with God’ – This is the day!
The world cannot become all gay;
’Tis worth the struggle, come what may;
God’s love, all Christians should repay.
‘This is the day: let each one pray;
Let’s preach the Word: clergy and lay.’
Copyright by Dr John Celes 13-3-2010
poem by John Celes
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We all live on the same planet, it is our only home, so... we used to rotate crops back in the day and, you know, who cares if you're going to make a profit if everybody's too dead or glowing in the dark to be able to purchase anything.
quote by Michael Berryman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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I didn't want to be like Yeats; I wanted to be Yeats.
quote by John Berryman
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My Own Heart Let Me More Have Pity on
My own heart let me more have pity on; let
Me live to my sad self hereafter kind,
Charitable; not live this tormented mind
With this tormented mind tormenting yet.
I cast for comfort I can no more get
By groping round my comfortless, than blind
Eyes in their dark can day or thirst can find
Thirst 's all-in-all in all a world of wet.
Soul, self; come, poor Jackself, I do advise
You, jaded, let be; call off thoughts awhile
Elsewhere; leave comfort root-room; let joy size
At God knows when to God knows what; whose smile
's not wrung, see you; unforeseen times rather - as skies
Betweenpie mountains - lights a lovely mile.
poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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My Own Heart Let Me Have More Have Pity On; Let
My own heart let me have more have pity on; let
Me live to my sad self hereafter kind,
Charitable; not live this tormented mind
With this tormented mind tormenting yet.
I cast for comfort I can no more get
By groping round my comfortless, than blind
Eyes in their dark can day or thirst can find
Thirst 's all-in-all in all a world of wet.
Soul, self; come, poor Jackself, I do advise
You, jaded, let be; call off thoughts awhile
Elsewhere; leave comfort root-room; let joy size
At God knows when to God knows what; whose smile
's not wrung, see you; unforeseen times rather—as skies
Betweenpie mountains—lights a lovely mile.
poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins
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India What Will You Teach This World?
India a continent old trade vast
India rich in philosophy religions
India steeped in ancient traditions
India a wealth of diverse cultures
India wisdom weeps crosses centuries
India you are supposed to be proud
India you are supposed to share
India your heritage with lost world
India you are supposed to share
Wisdom a covet west has forsaken
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Sonnet: Forgive Them God, Lord
Forgive them God, they know not what they do;
Forgive them Lord, they know not what they say;
Forgive them God, they are my siblings too;
Forgive them Lord, they seem just bad today!
Forgive them God, they were all born with me;
Forgive them Lord, they suffered really;
Forgive them God; they were so good truly;
Forgive them Lord, they have done their duty!
Forgive them God, the tempter has them prey;
Forgive them Lord, they were so sad most days;
Federal been God and send your guardian fay;
Forgive them Lord, they have innocent face!
Forgive them God; I’ll pray for them instead;
Forgive them Lord; better You strike me dead!
28-5-2001 Perundurai, ERODE. T.N. INDIA
poem by John Celes
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Return to the Lord’s Way
For long, have I not lived in sin?
Devils prevent my final win;
From path of good, have I not gone astray?
Afill my heart with grace, O God, I pray;
Show me, O God, my Lord, my way!
Lord, put me back upon heaven’s straight road;
Each father trains his son for good;
Give me the Manna as my food,
And let me live as a good Christian should.
Slithered I have from righteous path;
I need again a holy bath;
I’m lost in sin’s woods, dark and deep;
I’ve lost my health and peaceful sleep.
Forgive me, God for I have sinned;
To my conscience, I’ve not listened;
Lord, free me from my evil ways,
And help me live as Bible says.
Copyright by Dr John Celes 2-4-2009
poem by John Celes
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If your religion is better than mine and your opinion, you have a real problem.
quote by Michael Berryman
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Pilgrim's Way
I do not look for holy saints to guide me on my way,
Or male and female devilkins to lead my feet astray.
If these are added, I rejoice---if not, I shall not mind,
So long as I have leave and choice to meet my fellow-kind.
For as we come and as we go (and deadly-soon go we!)
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!
Thus I will honour pious men whose virtue shines so bright
(Though none are more amazed than I when I by chance do right),
And I will pity foolish men for woe their sins have bred
(Though ninety-nine per cent. of mine I brought on my own head).
And, Amorite or Eremite, or General Averagee,
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!
And when they bore me overmuch, I will not shake mine ears,
Recalling many thousand such whom I have bored to tears.
And when they labour to impress, I will not doubt nor scoff;
Since I myself have done no less and---sometimes pulled it off.
Yea, as we are and we are not, and we pretend to be,
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!
And when they work me random wrong, as oftentimes hath been,
I will not cherish hate too long (my hands are none too clean).
And when they do me random good I will not feign surprise.
No more than those whom I have cheered with wayside charities.
But, as we give and as we take---whate'er our takings be---
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!
But when I meet with frantic folk who sinfully declare
There is no pardon for their sin, the same I will not spare
Till I have proved that Heaven and Hell which in our hearts we have
Show nothing irredeemable on either side of the grave.
For as we live and as we die---if utter Death there be---
The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!
Deliver me from every pride---the Middle, High, and Low---
That bars me from a brother's side, whatever pride he show.
And purge me from all heresies of thought and speech and pen
That bid me judge him otherwise than I am judged. Amen!
That I may sing of Crowd or King or road-borne company,
That I may labour in my day, vocation and degree,
To prove the same in deed and name, and hold unshakenly
(Where'er I go, whate'er I know, whoe'er my neighbor be)
This single faith in Life and Death and to Eternity:
``The people, Lord, Thy people, are good enough for me!''
poem by Rudyard Kipling
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