Flash

Given enough time the dust of our days
Embeds us within the quilt of always
Foot to head the mother blanket is spread
Until the living are one with the dead
Turning back from birth turning back to earth

And so when our destiny comes calling
We answer it first rising then falling
An arc which begins and ends in the dark
Before and after destiny is done
With us beginning and ending are one

But at the zenith closest to the light
When we are soaring highest in mid-flight
How heady and how thrilling are those days!

Alone on our own to and from always
How ready and how willingly we fly
From womb to tomb bright as our life streaks by!

And there is nothing else for us but this
Flash on our way from and to the abyss

+Steven Curtis Lance



Copyright MMVI

dear cousin, a brilliant verse, a flashing comet of inspiration streaking across the atmosphere i love the energy and passion which you have woven into this pieces, it speaks of life and living, death and dying but its not sad, its full of love and rejoicing, this .. “”arc which begins and ends in the dark’’
fly high dear cousin, always take care greg.

Thanks so much, dear Cousin Greg.

You fly high too.

You're right that this poem isn't sad... I feel more hopeful, actually, than I have in a long time; people seem to be coming to their senses about things like climate change, war, and other great questions of the day. If we make it to the elections here in the USA, I think we will see political improvement.

Also, my namesake son, the rock star, is really doing well, and I'm so proud of him; I just got off the phone with him, and it all sounds wonderful. He just got back from a very successful trip with his band.

I am indeed a Steppenwolf... but I like my life as a lone lobo; I want to live. I am not going to commit suicide; it seems stupid to me now, and no longer an intelligent option.

I hope to write some more good poems, to have some fun, and to learn as much as I possibly can. I love it that there are a few people in this world who understand and appreciate my poetry. If I can just communicate with one person, then I am not a failure. Like it says on the back cover of my new book, Dancing Naked in a Haunted House, "I have not lived in vain but lived for this."

Cheers and love,

+Stevie

Keep writing!

(I wanna see more poems on politics!!!!) :-)

Thank you for your encouragement!

I think you would like my Red Book of Lance.

Speaking of the Nazis--I mean the Republicans--I was just on the phone with a friend in Germany, and I'm sure they were listening. I probably bored them to death; we just talked about poetry and such (I don't think their interests run along those lines).

I will post one of my favorite anti-Bush graphics here... I'm pretty stupid; it might take me a sec, but here it comes.

Thanks again, sincerely.

Respect and solidarity,

+Stevie

Hahahaha...you are not stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like that graphic!

Brilliant piece of work, life in a full orbit. Love the elliptical nature of the poem, I have struggled with many similar themes but haven't caught the optimism you have here, maybe just my dark nature? Quality work keep it coming. Deepest respect Andy

Dear Andy, and kind Guest, I am so grateful to you both for your encouragement!

Andy, you speak of your dark nature; my own is dark too, but mitigated by a certain childlike element of my nature resulting--I am told--from brain damage suffered as the result of encephalitis and coma when I was younger. This childlike quality is what occasionally (well, rather often, actually) makes me feel stupid, yet it also affords me, somehow, something of the magical thinking of the child, and a belief that somehow everything will turn out right for me in the end. My near-death experience made me feel immortal somehow, or at least like I have nothing to lose by trying and risking. Then also I have studied Zen a lot, and heaven knows grown up with good old Hesse and his--our--"dear brother death;" I guess I just take whatever comes, absurd as it is, and find it all weirdly entertaining.

But, ach, Himmel! I watched that entire Bush "news conference" this morning! Good Lord... an entire hour of an obvious damn fool dissembling and making an ass of himself. It put me into something like shock, and I curled up and slept for as long as I possibly could. I would still be asleep now, except that my very nice daughter called me and needed to talk to me, which made me feel useful and alive. Life goes on, even during dark times of absurd dictatorship. Many hours earlier, I was sleeping as much as possible then too, and my dear friend Franziska called me and woke me up; that was wonderful! So I suppose if I just sleep and dream as much as possible, those I love will eventually wake me up with happiness.

My doctor says not to watch Bush on the news. I don't have any cholesterol, or high blood pressure, or any of that, it's just that Bush has a profoundly discouraging effect on me. I try to enjoy his absurdity, but I always see the blood on his ignorant hands, and the spirits of those for whose death he is responsible. He is the chimp-like face of evil itself. Whoever dreamed that evil would look like an ignorant monkey? Real monkeys are quite clever, but not this false one.

Now I am awake... I will forget about Bush, make some good coffee, and enjoy the fact that today is the tenth birthday of my good old fat old cat, Freddie Noodles; Noodles is ten years old today! Hooray! So he and I are celebrating, and he is eating even more kitty treats than usual.

I am so happy to have a good cat, a good friend, and three good kids. I am also so happy to be able to write a poem now and then which good and kind and wise people find worthy. I am humbled and honored to be useful and found worthy in this way. I would really like to be a good poet. I hope to change the world a little for the better with my life.

Respect and solidarity, thanks and love,

+Stevie

genuinely emotive and gentle, insightfully honest piece. lovely.


misty

Thank you, Misty, with all my heart.

My new poem, Spring Rising, is almost ready now... somehow I didn't feel like sleeping after all.

Respect and solidarity,

+Stevie