theseaofaffliction

8/13/2019 theseaofaffliction

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/theseaofaffliction 1/72



The Sea of Affliction

by Rosemarie Rowley

Comark with Rowan Tree Press, Dublin

1987

2



Acknowledements

!rish Press, "uo, #uccion, $oice%ree

The &ublishers rate%ully acknowlede the

'useum der (ildenen )unste, *ei&+i,

or &ermission to re&roduce

-The #taes o% *i%e. by Cas&ar Da/id

riedrich, 180

Rosemarie Rowley, 1987, 2334

!#(5 1 87327 139 6(

!#(5 1 873247 24 P(

0



This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

http:creativecommons.or!licensesb"-nc-nd2.5

*For full license see the end of this documentoriginal copyright notice

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

http:creativecommons.or!licensesb"-nc-nd2.5

*For full license see the end of this document

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/






CONTENTS

The $irin Thinks on !carus 11&lodin the 'yth o% the :oron 10

The ;oo and the #ea 1

-6ow 'any #trawberries row in the #alt #ea.< 14

The 'ermaid 18

=rack 19

The Ra%t 23

#ca/eners 22>& the Creek 20

5ereid 27

#ea #hanty 28

Rumours on *andin 29

The #ea 6orse 01

6arbour *ihts 02

or the mirant 00

The #hi& o% #tate 0lotsam 04

The :irdle o% $enus 07

The 6old 08

The !ce Country 3

!!

The >nremembered Tree 0

The 'ain

Dead 'an?s iners



#cratched on a #ea@ #hell 4

The Thrust 7

(ridewell 8=reck 9

The Pearl 3

6er Tale 1

The #hame 2

(ondae 0

The Ree%

The *oss The #ad Tro&hy 4

The 'ariner?s =i%e?s Tale 7

(ad aith 8

air =eather 9

The Arosy 43

The #ea Chane 41

The 'atter 42

The !nheritance 40The #taes o% *i%e 4

4



!

7



!n tribute to %riendshi&

or 5!$5 C6AR$T

I shall wear white flannel trousers, and

walk Upon the beach

I have heard the mermaids singing, each to

each

I do not think that they will sing to me

T # liot

8



9



13



THE VIRGIN THINKS ON ICARUS

=ho has seen the %abulous unicorn<

Perha&s the /irin?s symbolic eyes

*ook throuh her turret at the skies

or %act to Boin with %antasy

And &enetrate her tet disuise

'oti% o% &oison and a ly&h

=here history took her missin chances

Tumbles the rid so her &ure lances

*ike a &in&oint on the alabaster cli%%

% indienous truth (ut where lies

6er one@horned lo/er in idea<

The cu& o% commissioned lies

!s broken on the wa/e o% need

Chimeres, o% course, may be ecused

or &eerin at the ede o% daydreams

As %ramentation now is %un

or su&er@eos on the run

And better her ta&estry wins

Than those way thins whereby !carus

Disa&&eared (etter her window on the biht

Than a drownin mind su%%used in rite

11



(etween the bla+in, sun@wrecked headAnd the traBectory, breast &ushin arm

There is a com&assed sea o% knowlede

That i/es deliht its dee& alarm

And in this briht and burnin dance

*o/e and ambition ha/e no chance

#he hears, in the last ehalation o% his lun,A wish %or a son that %or her will be unsun

!n a time that %or lo/ers will ne/er ha/e beun

12



EXPLODING THE MYTH OF THE GORGON

The snake@locks anemone6unered as she a+ed on the reen

% eternal mo/ement

Aainst the calm, cold,

!norant rock

% &ain and insecurity

!n the %oam was s&linterin

*ike actuality, her lo/e dreamsA moon

Turned masculine, he would

:o/ern her heart, mind

And s&irit E com&uter

)in@bee, to mimic her &ower o/er li%e,

6er terrible beauty %ranchised,

Petri%ied in the daily eam&le o% lo/e

Fet the dashin seas&ray mo/es continually!n an in%inite aubade, e/enson,

A choric hymn to the sea motherG

ractured, she would no more sin the son

That second, when her eyes met the man

'outhin the word atom

#he knew him whose

!m&lodin eye

=ould haunt her %or centuries

10



THE ZOO AND THE SEA

The esture is the sha&e o% %lame=hich tells how sacred is a name

The :rail is lost, and yet we kee&

'akin com&arisons, and chea&

ollow monkeys in caes, where amused

They scan the weekend solitudes

A rid necessary, but %ractious

Come, &oet, be %riend and ta us

At least we here ha/e no &retence

Amenable to common sense

=e set our %la abo/e the door :oue wide the eistential sore

=e are all one s&ecies, so stay on

6ere?s ill@%ittin &aradim %or e/eryone

Reconise what is ood and true,

*ea/e %aith, all will %ollow you

And wallow blindly in the sand

or %ate to hold and lend a hand

1



Hust say that mire re%lects a star

*ike the essence o% what &eo&le are

And lyin, they can easily %ake

The watershed o% their own make

*i/e in inaction, like the clam

De/our the air, and eat -! am.

(e sunk in strane nobility*ike lobster &ots in a blood red sea

The teeth ad/ent the comin rae

Cry, and tear u& e/ery &ae

6istory is made by areed omission

nly the sea is true to its mission

=e sit here watchin its /indication

As it is &um&ed %ull o% radiation

1



“How many s!aw"#!!$#s %!ow $n &# sa' s#a()

*T!a+,

IiJ

A molecule is ridiculous

And one is ridiculous

This is what ! said as ! a+ed u&on

The Cano&ic sea

=ith its torn sheen

A thread lies across my eye

5aked as air

The /oid is /isionless %or the

=holly %rihteninly!ne&erienced

Power%ul emotion may be sacred

The &oems o% lo/e may not be in/itations

IiiJ

The mo/ements o% &o&ollutions

6a/e little to do with

(ut must outmode the archi/ist

14



6istory is not &anseual and the swirls

% ta&estry recede(eyond the check&oint

The mo/ements o% the masses can be

Reistered without %ear

The eye may surrender to the um

IiiiJ

6oly is the /essel

(ut the mountebank inKuisitor

:i/es sermons on the body and mi d

And in between,

The dimmed willThe &arlour o% sense

eel a heart achin

The womb morass

#kirtin li%e

The %ear%ul chariot

17



THE MERMAID

Could it be called a distance or a closeness

A tincture like %aith when our bodies hurt

or each tied arm or breast o% ho&elessness<

#un@star/ed without real lo/e, sea@irt,

:ulled by the sea?s obedience, could our needs

*ike the stranded &ellet o% your o%%@wind eye'ark in sea@rass the uncharted deeds

=here time belie/ed your oars Bust dri%ted by<

5ow rocks are the landsca&e o% my dreams,

Their wim&led arms, their blihted eyes

Clams o&en to my a+e are screams E

!nstruct my use%ulness, with lies

!m&erial solitudeL Past &redicatin

'y eternal days are without retort

The shadow o% his im&ossible bones

*ike battenin drams, a consort

18



-RACK

! had been sent to banishmentor hauhty airs, and the beach

And the seaweed were a desert

*o/ers in the &aradise lost

5ow %ound themsel/es totally %ree

And hated it, as they had %eared hatred,

And lo/ed it, as they had not desired lo/in

A heron close to the shore

Tore our tawdry eye

6e we&t we were unclean

*ookin at the ri/erbed

=here %ish were e&irin

Tails li%tin, thum&in, dyin

And cried all those who ha/e swornAainst a sacred will shall share this %ate

% desertry and desolation

Children were askin

'ammy, would you take the nails out o% my hand

!% ! were on the cross<

Did :od ha/e no mother or %ather<

And they breathed air that was dead and %ull o% lead

19



THE RAFT

rom tem&les hidin %rom his wrath=here %ool and Pharisee sit in sackcloth

rom &laces where the 6oly =rit is banked

'y ra%t set out to sea E one %aith%ul &lank

The discourse o% lo/e was a no/elty, so stated

The whine o% ser/ility in the hihly %ated

The constant &ro%anity in &ublic &laces=as seen as a blemish on the ancient races

5o blame at the con%erence on recidi/ism

Hust &unent satire to e&el the scroll?s witticism,

=his&erin behind hands, a con/ent irl on &arole

inds hersel% word@&er%ect on the soul

!t must be lo/e, %or ! ha/e still my heart!t beats in me, that is :od?s balanced &art

/ery truth makes the mind e%%ecti/e

/ery action is the thouht?s correcti/e

Fet arms and munitions are hidden under rants

To make dismemberment s&eak, to lance

=ith %oetid s&ear the halo o% identity

And ob%uscate the human destiny

23



(ut 6e who dro/e the wa/es beneath the %irmament

Can s&eak in di/ers tonues a &romise meant

6e can see the rot the land has set you=ho was torn in anuish to &er%ect you

:ras& ho&e, the ra%t o% a new season

Render unto Boy the a%%liction o% your reason

(elie/e a %riend, who lo/es you more than 6e<

!s all the answer %indin :od has /ictory<

#o ho&e, listen, is a word sent to the heart,

A lo/in eye, which is not yet u&start

rom the arb o% sel%hood which im&risons

rom the ruin o% churches, which is schisms

rom the abuse o% %reedom, which is tyranny

Deli/er us, said the detritus o% the %aith%ul sea

rom the usur&er?s in/estment in the /enin #tar #a/e us, said the man who would not cull the mornin

lory?s hour

21



SCAVENGERS

6ow aunt they will be is a matter %or conBecture(ut their eyes will harden like the one they seek

!n a hideous de%amation o% their s&irit sel%

nce hinted at in the sur%ace o% a shell

5ow welded to indestructible &lastic

And reuritated, to &resent its unha&&iness

To the &ublic air E a conealed mealThrown u& by the &ri/ate coitations o% the sea

!nsulted irre/ocably, irre&arably, %inally

'arried, meanin marred, at last by man

5ot Bust tamed, subdued, or brouht to heel

(ut in%iltrated Poisoned 5ow sca/eners

*earn the lessons o% our ancestors!n a new world without &ossibility

22



UP THE CREEK

IiJ The &rickly cockle

=ait till ! adBust my &er%ectibility

And ! will ri& that li/ery o% yours

Token %emale this year, and yours

=ith your watch chain broken in the sand

The tele/ision with its cuckold horns

6as damned you %or a %ilmic hero

! clam& my mouth as ! s&it out

Tides o% sea enius, weeds o% catale&sy

Raw usts o% the +eiteist ! will be

eatured in the back to nature series

IiiJ The smooth /enus

#oothe my sense with sweet &er%ume

! ha/e my sister?s ho&ed skirt on

And !?m lookin %or a new son

An ensin %or the moon

Festerday?s a yellow trum&et

Turned old with lonin

5ow in eile, ! remember you boldly

20



=as it once we were toether<

IiJ The warty /enus

=ait until the surrealist man takes o/er And li%e will be worth readinL

Already, the choirboys are Kueuin in sou& kitchens

And &riests? knees are sna&&in at the altar

Churches are done %or

#o lon they whi&&ed maic out o% blood

5ow, :othic windows are monotonous

As reen rass

!n the beach@hut you are %ree

=ith all the &o&@corn you buy %or me

A smashed camera around your neck

*et?s take a tri& %ar out to sea

=atch the white chairs %lyin

/er %ish@head rocks

Don?t %oret your sur&lusL

2



IiiJ The Chinaman?s hat

!s not awakenin an e/en dee&er delusion<! ask mysel% as ! buy my Chinese meal

The only secret le%t %or me to unra/el

!s the secret o% buyin and sellin,

An old trade ! had shunned with inter&retation

o% the Classics

5ow, the dark boy i/es me chane

!t is clear ! ha/e le%t my youth behind me6ow suddenly ae has come u&on meL

And ! am only now beinnin to be serious

IiiiJ The hermit crab

!?m &aradim

A care%ul creature who li/es where others want him

! di/ine my borders throuh the rhythms o% my neihbours

! enter into areements %or trans&ort, %ood su&&ly and

mutual &rotection

*o/in, encom&assin, ! ask only clean air

2



and water and a %ew morsels

! trawl and crawl in the secrets o% the dee&,

! ha/e a sideways a&&roach to li%e

Reconciliation is my ultimate ambition

Ii/J The 5oah?s Ark shell

5ow look at us all

Co/ered in slime and e%%luentL

#ediment blowin in the wind

=hat?s worse,

Fou can?t smell, %eel or seeThe real dirt

The kids ha/e sores, die youn

=e kee& searchin the blood@moon

or news o% our worth

! ha/e %ored the utmost link o% %ate

=ith time

24



NEREID

I%or $alentin !remoner and %amilyJ

There is a &lace !?m sure to %ind my son

Althouh it echo when the niht winds blow

And the harbour %ill with tambourines o% woe

=hen embittered sailors rowin hard and slowCan?t tell how time has made the story lon

And in s doin, lost its maiden tonue

Fet there?s a &lace where death won?t sound his on

There is a &lace ! know a barren reed

'oons in the ri/er like a %ro+en note

!ts delicate callira&hy a%loat

To bear the honour o% a sinle deed=hich has the im&rint o% a lo/er?s need

To make the landsca&e mystic in the /ote

And i/e the world kits beauty Kuote

The luminous words amon a scrabbled screed

And saints who?d make o% Peasus a oat

6ere are %lowers, massed amon the weed

5ot carried by those &icadors o% reed

=ho learn &salms, sons, a&othems, by rote,

And in so doin, do their lessons wron

And har/est snow, e/en %rom lo/e?s e/en son

There is a &lace ! know to riht the wron

There is a &lace ! know !?ll %ind my son

27



RUMOURS ON LANDING

I!J At the dock

Fou belon to honed Parnassus

And e/en circlets o% race

=ith your s&arrow hands and sunlasses

Fou euloise this %ault o% &lace

And say the !rish are not honest

Prais has lost a kind di/inity

All human li%e is here E the onest

Are in the dark seas? shri/eled alay

And they ha/e ke&t a shibboleth

=ith wanton hands and %antastic lies!rish rats rhymed to death

@ a reKuisite %or the disuise

or e/ery chance that brouht you here

!s counter to the diital clock

And ! am le%t without a tear

A %lower challenin a rock

The mar/elous boy is drowned

The kna/e is at court, in a &assion

The lies in the %ire ! ha/e %ound

=ould kee& a salamander?s tail thrashin

29



THE SEA HORSE

(for Linda ill!

!t makes no di%%erence what the scientists say

The hand o% :od that drew niht and day

ut o% the mysterious /oid so we could be

#aid -*et there be liht. The 6e concei/ed the #ea

#o :od made nature, 6is bride and arti%act,=ho must be Boined to man to be eact

#olicitous, creati/e, her %orm adored E

(ut men are treacherous, and she ets bored

The sea bows out, so has a neat acKuittal

(ut a woman has to han on, it?s marital

De%ined by her childbearin &ro&ensity

6e inores her intellectual intensity,

That eclamation mark on %eminine creation,

The seahorse, is %ather and mother o% a nation

(earin his es, his body all erect

!ndicates :enesis to be un%inished tract

The clam, the %laellate, the urchin and the crab

utride the nihttime %ancy o% "ueen 'ab

=hat %iner initialin in the sand

=ould be seahorse in the middle o% that band<

!, said the mother, who would die o% thirst

Rather than be considered %irst

The &roto+oa and the douhty trilobite

01



6a/in &recedence in this unseemly %iht

#o, the weddin?s done, the uests ha/e one to seed

To celebrate necessity and reed=ho in her bridal own o% &lanent seaweed

Can sin the sadness o% a broken reed<

HAR.OUR LIGHTS

! watched them o out, one %irst, then toether

The lihts o% lo/e and kindnessach %riendshi&?s &act, each lo/er?s /ow

=as le%t in residual blindness

They winked, be%ore their own etinction

They limmered, as they &ut out their shinin

*ost souls oin into orbit, discourse into monoloue

And the blind sel% clun to the rail, di/in

=hat %ate now< =hat ho&e o% communication

And the woman, se/ered %rom what she thri/es on

#eeks s&ontaneity E a soul to be dis&irited

(y the crumbly dialoue all nland sur/i/es on

mbrace utilitarian aony

The arid &un, the Boke?s that threadbare

5o meanin, but base echane >sae

The heartless ame o% baron and ta&ayer

02



FOR THE EMIGRANT

!n the wake o% the shi&, the limmerin necklaces o% liht#hone hard as diamonds in the soul?s %irst %rost@bite

6ow little you knew that the tiresome traBectory

The an&lank between you and the world still %ree

=ould shorten to a noose, catchin at your neck

#tranlin as the %ohorn on the lonesome deck

Four dreams, mystical, maical became

All o% %lesh, as your body surrendered to the name

#ynco&ated to an arti%icial chorus and rhythm

=here you couldn?t hear the benediction o% the sea hymn

(ut only a curse, and as many ha/e disco/ered

!s !reland?s i%t to you, head bent and unco/ered

*oss is an aony that de%ies descri&tionarewell to lauhter, Boy and lo/e?s &rescri&tion

Four neat head that a+es in the ladies? lass

Returns an imae, monstrous, unsur&assed

!n terrors to be borne, rancour and rue

#u%%ered by uilty &arties namin you

Four husband, shame us, will ra&e and he you

=ill arland you with death wishes, lad to /e you

6e?ll %orce you to a stanant act o% union

6e?ll &laiarise, &oison your true communion

Ra&t in the imae you throw back at him

6e?ll &ush you o%%stae, keelin at the world?s rim

6e?ll translate your sacred traditions as hooley

00



Desinate your eKuisite abstractions as unruly

Four &ieties will become his blas&hemy

Four nai/ete in %ace o% law, a %elonyFour %ruits and blossoms he?ll render as a ci&her

Four ballad sheets, to sons he can?t deci&her

This lies be%ore you, who a+e into the lass

All these %riht%ul de%ormities will come to &ass

=alkin on the deck now, ha/e a care

Take out your instrument, &lay a slow air Those who look with lonin on your %iddle

=ill steal your tunes, and make your heart a riddle

The boat now mo/es across the hea/in sea

!ts destination beins another Bourney

A &assener, with %alse letters o% in/itation

Fou chane your address to a modern nation

De/oid o% ins&iration, seekin cruci%iionFou start your lonely /oyae E and the %are is &erdition

0



THE SHIP OF STATE

The shi& o% state, she was a %ro+en imae:rown out o% bloodshed, murder, adae,

!nward a+in brouht her short o% hysteria

And banished her writers to outer #iberia

6ocked soul, s&irit, and mind %or %orein echane

#wallowed ideas, till they rew a mane

Ad/ertisement, suar stick o% seduction

:round her on the rock o% destruction

The shores &olluted, the ri/ers stinkin, rotten

#how how a less than modern state is beotten

The air is %ull o% %umes %rom motor cars

The smoke o% heatin u& o% little C+ars

The sea coitates, warnin star%ish

To assume the %orm o% anuish

0



FLOTSAM

! searched my shoes and %ound my wayTo the intricate bed&ost o% the sea

Away %rom the Roc?s desolation

And the sons which told o% you and me

! met #u&erman amon the wa/es

!n the harsh deckle o% the sand

6is hair combed by seaworthy kna/esTo mend the Bourney?s am&ersand

settle my Kuestion, so ! can tell

The dream o% he who rides the sky

Pour lo/e and the sea into a conch@shell

#o children may listen and wonder why

The s&aces between consonantal sto&sAre worn and chancelled as your breath

And how your sons are like the %unnel?s

irst reach seaward in your hot dark death

04



THE GIRDLE OF VENUS

A man &assed by The tide shri/eled at his %eet,Transmori%yin Canute, that neat witch

6is &lastic hands trebled the broken imae

#hards ricochetin outwards as %rom a mirror The ae

Demands silence, yet he chose %or thrill

'ananimous matter, woman?s ill

A youn irl hasty in her %irst re%usal)e&t a diary o% her dissonance, an intuition

=ith thirteen months #ea@thri%t

=as her bounty 6er Kuestions caused a ri%t

The sea was her sincerity, treasurin

!n a dee& co/e what lo/e had died

Con%ession o% rie% is worthy dissertation

And token %emale academic heart is &roo% 'en bleed like women The son was dribbled

(y the rey@haired &oets and a scroll@damaed &oo%

A tai with academics and scribblers

Takin &art in the loot They made a s&oo%

07



THE HOLD

(eauties o% a &lace and time

*ea/e no essence in the mind

The winter bisho& is not able

To resurrect his li/in %able

5orthern !reland %ihts with dice

Pro&inKuity at the settler?s &riceClouds o% anuish %orm my head

#ectarianism is a Procrustean bed

Proselytisin %or the %uture

Parasitic on the &ast,

The heel is cracked, the toe is &inchin

=here?s a one to make a last<

Di him in the bloody %la%ields

Plouh his sinews where he musters

*ace his ears with shea/es o% wrath

#&lit his mouth with blackened blisters

!n no corncrake s&rin he?s drunk

=ith wine that ne/er saw a barrel

6is %actory made /ocabulary

=ill tri& him down on my liht carrel

08



=here?s the man i% he is able

To &itch the Bu o% a&&easement in the hay<To (abylon he sends a cable

#uch %ictions root him to his clay

iction nourish him, no wonder

A new world chocked on nutriment

And ! am choked with common sense

A naM/e realist in a Pythaorean tent

#ay what man will wrench a Kuarter

rom the drink so&&ed drunken bay

The harbour head is silted

And cork@lined bodies block the way

The mirror is broken, the lam& is a%lame

The straddlin syco&hants i/e the horse blame(ut when the news comes %rom a%ar

Fou may be sure they ha/en?t seen a star

09



THE ICE COUNTRY

!t is the way ! kee& on, reardless

Past the ice blocks on the crust o% time

=ith winter set in and the sea at my back

ro+en like a lon echo

Pledes you had made in warmer climes 5ow &ro/e worthless as a translation o% ho&e

They ha/e diminished into raucous lauhter

There?s some %un in eKuisite Boke

That kee&s me oin, &ast the time

=ith the /ision o% your hands %adin,

The beauty o% the country o% your body,

!mmobile, &resaed this ice ae

!t seems we had echaned blood,

6earts, lihts, kidneys, minds

(ut not kindness =e had /itriol

$iolence, /irulence and &estilence

!n the dark reen summer ! see

!t im&risoned in a block o% ice

>nable to hurt or heal, Bust &rick the skin

=ith a %leetin irritation not like a wound

! kee& oin &ast the dead, entombed

or e/er in a lacial calm

$eetation has lon since le%t the &ath

3



There are only stones le%t, scarrin the ice

II

1



!n tribute to sisterhood

or 'AR!*F5 'AN=**

-The lea/es o% the sea are shaken and shaken,

There was a tree that was a %ather

=e sat beneath it and san our sons.

"allace Stevens

2



THE UNREMEM.ERED TREE

-n the shore o% the wide world. I #eats!

Across the dire straits o% unremember

! %laed the ancient dower to rie/e

=ith the raddled s&irit o% the sea

The olden &lede which the world can thie/e

rom the still lea/es o% an unremembered tree E The shores are still@shelled, like a nimbus

Rare, abo/e the dark intrinsic wound o% sel%

As &redicate, shri/ed, married in hate

=ithout honour, to the beastly baron waste

6e s&oke our mind, the truth was our betrayal

@ im&ulse and motion were his &lunder

Fet hills called back to =ordsworth, a wonder

To child, and a child to wonderDachau, 6iroshime, the a&ostasy to sense

=here is that sweet /ow, that inheritance<

0



THE MAIN

!t?s wron to think you ha/e a s&ecial &lace

=here mirror?s bane can?t hurt

=here in ideallic world

Fou can transcribe your real callin

The house built on sand will o away

Down to the seas, you must not counter The lost distance, with an emblem o% %arewell

r dress it u& to mourn the ra o% youth

#o each alleon that sails %rom America

Prenant sails hea/y with s&oil

*ea/es a leacy to tear out mystery

#&ell it out in hea/es and sobs o% loss

Remember, while you dreamt o% blessed lo/ers

Fou encountered the sons o% reality



DEAD MAN/S FINGERS

Ia poem on Sellafield, the $ritish %uclear &eactor ' in an

advertisement in the London bserve in the )eighties,, they

invited the public to come and look at their clean nuclear

power station!

5o com&ass, lodestar nor muted caulborn child

Could ha/e taken away our chancery

#o much, nor in the abandoned wild

% sea%arers? destinies, scrawled this history

n %aces chiseled by the sea, to doom

% blood and breath #ea thri%t, a waste

% what the /erb to be, means (oom

% ne%arious husbandry, they will rea&rom the s&endthri%t sea a wreck o% haards

#cratch on the sand a white, de%ormed de%eat

And the ad/ertisin in the &a&er, braarts

That what is only /isible is meat

or enter&rise where maiden wombs will sha&e

Children born to die o% master ra&e



SCRATCHED ON A SEA0SHELL

I for *argaret Shore!

nce he &ossessed her in the yellow &lain,

A %ield o% corn a/e her the %irst madrial

And she wrote with reen reeds the alien rain

=ith nature, understandin, and rew maical

Child and arden or her %lowin tears6e in/ented the clear con%ine o% lass

And the blood@ure in his thouht slew the %ears

That she would lea/e the house, and &ass

Throuh the silk doors o% li%e to %ind them close

!n his o/er@awed skill like a dream o% hea/en

:one by #he went to the %orest, as a tree knows

That only truth and nature are a lea/en

=hich %lows like the s&irit o% the sea(ut he had s&oiled it, with her lost in%inity

4



THE THRUST

The sea is considered %eminine Ra&e is

The crime where the /ictim is not named

ncrusted Bewel %lawed by hideous temerity

Pearl@the%t sanction by %anatic reed,

!ssue &raised =oman is a doorwayTo a kindom whose rollin crown is &arody

% lo/e (artered %or, means to an end,

!mained Bustice &aid %or by her cries,

And child a word %or issue, when the child

!s beared on a lo/in entle s&irit,

A throwaway thrust that reduces the sea

To a sKuandered dominion like an old tin can

Rustin in the wa/es, a raddled &lanent Kueen=hose health and beauty he did not esteem

7



.RIDE-ELL

The battlements she raised ha/e le%t her kee& thrown

n an idle s&ace E where breathins o% the story

(la+e in the e/enin &a&ers #o clear the loan

And interest on abuse, maternal lory

!s anodyne to sto& &ublic wound and E&leasure

And cut it in the icy icon o% the eye

=here women %ree+e ho&e The loot and treasure% Bourneyin is borrowed time to why

A child will trace in the ochre sand

*ike the crab nebula, the e&losion o% his birth

6is mother?s history written on his hand

Clenched on coloured lass The ocean?s irth

!s like the dee& swell in his curious mind

And intricate as the dream that made her blind

8



-RECK

Assum&tion is the wreck o% thouht The cra+e

or &ower ends between a woman?s les #ealed

(y a lo/er?s &lede, men rent a &hrase

!n court #he says she didn?t yield

All women are subsumed in ra&e, by men

The sea knows that #he has enduredA ra&e 5ow, has a shrink, with ;en

(ut the eale is landed and we can?t be cured

A coast &olluted, still with &ride to rear

And &ay the a&in od, is called a scrum,

5o anodyne to heart A i%t o% tears

=hen not a sinle tear can come

nly a &ain in the sanctuary o% her head

=hen /iolated, she?s better dead

9



THE PEARL

6e tauht her to listen to hersel% 6e was indi%%erent

To the schooled hearts o% sealed wonder, who were sto&&ed

!n the anchor o% disco/ery #o, seein a%%ection

(old in her %ace, he tri%led with her se and lo&&ed

6er head o%% *anuae was unused to these themes

#o she rested with the memory o% her true lo/eAs she knelt on the shore o% broken &romises and dreams

5aked in the sand, where she could %ind no co/er

&erience me *o/e is real ! am destruction

The annihilation o% your soul in &roo%@&ositi/e lore

A ca&italist ri&@o%%, a counter%eit seduction,

That ha/in used your &ro%itably, now calls you whore

And in that &ain, you buy essential conscience)ee& this treasure, the &earl o% your silence

3



HER STORY

6is word set a tombstone on my heart

!m&elled the kni%e?s silhouette into my side

The brown s&eck on his eye was a &art

% beauty?s %unus, a le&rosy o% &ride

#till in the whited &alin o% my soul

! let this dark trans&arency take root

To dri/e into the earth o% my whole#&rin, %antasy?s %esterin shoot

n/y?s ratuitous mockery o% the Bust

The rudin, tetchy, mimicry in the skull

=ill sail with death, and at last, a ull

#ti%led in the world?s wind&i&e, is torn

ut o% some Kuiet bay, a raucous horn

1



THE SHAME

The issue, %lesh and blood (ut rined around

*ike a discarded necklace, are the deeds

The mind, in/aded, sets u& a surround

% %ake belie% while, mocked, the s&irit seeds

Darkly in the waste The wraith, bere%t %ound@

*in, looms in the desert mirae, shimmers, beads

% blood on the listenin tem&le #ound% blood dri&&in, so%t bone breakin, seaweed

:irdlin a ru&tured anel smile The hound

% hell and hea/en sna&&in in the reeds

% honest thouht, s&irit?s sea@s&ray, bound

To dishonour words E a memory no one heeds

% heart, mind and body @ multi&le treason

!n the wild %oam, a smashed, a%%licted reason

2



.ONDAGE

The tears o% the world are a constant Kuantity

And mo/in hearts %ied testament o% rie%

Restless under the moon, we ask the sea

To kee& this essence #he?s re&entant thie%

!n timeGs transcri&t o% a shatterin ho&e

A summer?s day when lo/e and Boy can teem

/er in a reen swell Fet a man will ro&eTo %erret out the ardour o% her scheme

oret which &erson can &resent her cause

% e&ectation in callira&hy and scroll

A raduate o% li%e be%ore its laws

Are etched into the witchin o% her soul

=inched in her body, he tests the &ulse o% matter

The %riend turned contact all his words will scatter

0



THE REEF

The blihted ho&e that struck u&on the ree%

% enerous nelect, has tied the dreams

% thins which /ouchsa%e interity?s demeanour

#uch is the boat hea/in on the tide

5ot necessary %or the claim to &onder

=hich strikes the heart direct 5o to that Fes to &re/arication

The wealth o% nations rests u&on a Kuibble

% the sel% and others, need /ersus reed,

The as&irant?s waes, the market?s inter&lay

6un on the straddled stu&or o% the ae

The trees, struck down with sickness, cannot rae

=oman, the &recious ornament o% time

!s in her old ae, the memory o% a crime



THE LOSS

The bride is now a tra/esty, a skeet

6er own trails her on the beach

% broken &romises #omewhere a sweet

Do/e ascends the air, out o% the sea@ull?s reach

#he sees it %ly away, and %rom her eye

A &earl tear loosens, sKuee+in bitter &ride

ut o% the wreck o% her soul A &asser@by*ooks on, anious to take a side

And hear the tale o% desecration, sih

or the truth %ore/er lost A Bealous ride

% scron has tram&led the wild, &rised

&en the oyster &earl o% %lowerin thih

#he sees, in shells, the bounty o% her store

Robbed, &lundered, o&en on the sea shore



THE SAD TROPHY

#&oilae may be man?s destiny, thouh he wills,

6e cannot birth new bein into the world,

!n/oluntary s&asm soon translates what thrills

Can bear aloneness, as seed is hurled

=ith millions into the matri o% matter =ith the other hal%, to show an eye an ae

atherhood is such remo/e, may be a tatter

% mystery which %ills his heart with rae

#o imitate that which i/es o%%ence,

The miracle o% birth #o sacri%ice,

'ake bloody entrance into absence

And marry intellect and lust A &aradise% muted birds, then, &ollute with hate

6er broken dreams, like her sea in s&ate

4



THE MARINER/S -IFE/S TALE

6e?s the lo/e o% my li%e, and he s&eaks kindly to me

(ut my &art is written, e/en be%ore ! s&eak

=hile he e&ands sea walls Paradims o% lo/e

Cast me in his stereoty&e, &liable, meek

The beaches he will &lunder %or the treasure

To make a carcanet %or me, will sei+e my neck

And tihter row in his bonds, till ! e&iren the %ulsome &raise which he with im&unity can %eck

rom the store o% word Bewels my mother tauht me

6is the%t is time@honoured, my merest brake

% thouht on s&eech Bust hastens towards the bar

% thankless thri%t o% olden eye and &icture

And miraculous %ault Fet multi&lied in my wake

Are my children, hall@marked, leitimate

7



.AD FAITH

!t ha&&ened to me too ! le%t the road

% Bewel@encrusted ha&&iness %or your lie

(ecause that e&lained the misery o% the world

! sto&&ed talkin to the tra/elers, and a/e

Them standin orders monthly throuh the bank

(read went stale in my house, the birds le%t

or aromatic ardens hun betweenTime and s&ace and our reat year o% doubt

Their %rarance came to me in the shi&?s cabin

=here ! was loin your &hiloso&hy as dementia &raeco

! &lundered mytholoies, the tree and cross were banned

All this %or one lieL (ut it &oisoned me

!t &ursued me like a olden ser&ent

And turned to dust the memory o% our youth

8



FAIR -EATHER

Dear %riends, when those we lo/e are in distress

ur %irst im&ulse must be to tread them down,

*ess we encourae a shi%tless mess,

And be &re/ailed u&on to act the clown

or only %ools su%%er, and we cannot bless

Those who with base error seek renownAnd ha/e it &rattled u& and down the town

urs is to lea/e, lest we, too, reress

This may seem cruel and will cause some &ain

(ut what is &ain besides knowin what is riht<

or riht is miht, and %oolishness can bite

*ike a sick leo&ard at what we ho&e to ain

or %riends as you a %east is but a bane,

:obbets o% i++ard, a Tantalus cu& o% rain

9



THE MATTER

#hot with liht, the mo/in turbulent sea

(roods on the briht eternal, sends out ho&e,

!n the constant %lu, a need, a rae to be

Considered whole, at one, is met (ut the sco&e

% such a riddle asks a mind, &ays a %ee

or Boinin mortal to di/ine, ro&e

To han the thesis, :od on luminosityThrouh which 6is ood &ower, old do&e

% the clankin metal reason, has a /ictory

6er mind is hurt by liht !t had to co&e

=ith in/asion, insult, the cruel knee

!n the roin, a hand around to ro&e

=hen her secret sanctuary was sacked

6er eyes, tear oblets a imlet couldn?t crack

42



THE STAGES OF LIFE

Ia%ter the co/er &aintin by Cas&ar Da/id riedrich which

com&rises the co/er o% this &oetry collectionJ

6e walks to meet his %ate 6e wadesTowards the sea, and sees his own death

Come to him, a /ision out o% 6ades

#ea rocks scorn the shrill &early wreath

Those eyes ha/e become 6is own raids

n the /isionary mirror the dearth

% res&onsibility to the real Holie@laides

6a/e in/aded his dream, earth

6as demanded her &rice 6e dies, %ades,The o&alescent leams i/e a monstrous birth

ut o% beauty A machine &arades

=ith slea+y oil across the hori+on?s irth

The woman runs rains o% sand throuh her hand

The children &lant a %la u&on the strand

4



CRAT!$ C''5# *:A* CD

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5C#$AT%&$ C'(('N) C'#*'#AT%'N %) N'T A LA+ ,%#( AND

D'$) N'T *#'&%D$ L$AL )$#&%C$). D%)T#%/T%'N ', T0%)L%C$N)$ D'$) N'T C#$AT$ AN ATT'#N$1-CL%$NT#$LAT%'N)0%*. C#$AT%&$ C'(('N) *#'&%D$) T0%)%N,'#(AT%'N 'N AN A)-%) A)%). C#$AT%&$ C'(('N)(A3$) N' +A##ANT%$) #$A#D%N T0$ %N,'#(AT%'N

*#'&%D$D4 AND D%)CLA%() L%A%L%T1 ,'# DA(A$)#$)/LT%N ,#'( %T) /)$.

License

T0$ +'#3 A) D$,%N$D $L'+6 %) *#'&%D$D /ND$# T0$T$#() ', T0%) C#$AT%&$ C'(('N) */L%C L%C$N)$ CC*L'# L%C$N)$6. T0$ +'#3 %) *#'T$CT$D 1 C'*1#%0T AND'# 'T0$# A**L%CAL$ LA+. AN1 /)$ ', T0$ +'#3'T0$# T0AN A) A/T0'#%7$D /ND$# T0%) L%C$N)$ '#C'*1#%0T LA+ %) *#'0%%T$D.

1 $8$#C%)%N AN1 #%0T) T' T0$ +'#3 *#'&%D$D 0$#$41'/ ACC$*T AND A#$$ T' $ '/ND 1 T0$ T$#() ', T0%)L%C$N)$. T0$ L%C$N)'# #ANT) 1'/ T0$ #%0T) C'NTA%N$D

0$#$ %N C'N)%D$#AT%'N ', 1'/# ACC$*TANC$ ', )/C0T$#() AND C'ND%T%'N).

9. Deinitions

9. Collective +ork means a work4 such as a periodical issue4antholo!" or enc"clopedia4 in which the +ork in its entiret" inunmodiied orm4 alon! with a number o other contributions4

4



constitutin! separate and independent works in themselves4 areassembled into a collective whole. A work that constitutes a Collective

+ork will not be considered a Derivative +ork as deined below6 orthe purposes o this License. 2. Derivative +ork means a work based upon the +ork or uponthe +ork and other pre-e;istin! works4 such as a translation4 musicalarran!ement4 dramati<ation4 ictionali<ation4 motion picture version4sound recordin!4 art reproduction4 abrid!ment4 condensation4 or an"other orm in which the +ork ma" be recast4 transormed4 or adapted4e;cept that a work that constitutes a Collective +ork will not be

considered a Derivative +ork or the purpose o this License. ,or theavoidance o doubt4 where the +ork is a musical composition or soundrecordin!4 the s"nchroni<ation o the +ork in timed-relation with amovin! ima!e s"nchin!6 will be considered a Derivative +ork or thepurpose o this License. =. Licensor means the individual or entit" that oers the +orkunder the terms o this License. >. 'ri!inal Author means the individual or entit" who created the+ork.

5. +ork means the cop"ri!htable work o authorship oeredunder the terms o this License. ?. 1ou means an individual or entit" e;ercisin! ri!hts under thisLicense who has not previousl" violated the terms o this License withrespect to the +ork4 or who has received e;press permission rom theLicensor to e;ercise ri!hts under this License despite a previousviolation.

2. ,air /se #i!hts. Nothin! in this license is intended to reduce4 limit4or restrict an" ri!hts arisin! rom air use4 irst sale or other limitationson the e;clusive ri!hts o the cop"ri!ht owner under cop"ri!ht law orother applicable laws.

=. License rant. )ub@ect to the terms and conditions o this License4Licensor hereb" !rants 1ou a worldwide4 ro"alt"-ree4 non-e;clusive4

44



perpetual or the duration o the applicable cop"ri!ht6 license toe;ercise the ri!hts in the +ork as stated below:

9. to reproduce the +ork4 to incorporate the +ork into one ormore Collective +orks4 and to reproduce the +ork as incorporated inthe Collective +orks 2. to distribute copies or phonorecords o4 displa" publicl"4 perormpublicl"4 and perorm publicl" b" means o a di!ital audio transmissionthe +ork includin! as incorporated in Collective +orks

The above ri!hts ma" be e;ercised in all media and ormats whethernow known or hereater devised. The above ri!hts include the ri!ht tomake such modiications as are technicall" necessar" to e;ercise theri!hts in other media and ormats4 but otherwise "ou have no ri!hts tomake Derivative +orks. All ri!hts not e;pressl" !ranted b" Licensor arehereb" reserved4 includin! but not limited to the ri!hts set orth in)ections >d6 and >e6.

>. #estrictions.The license !ranted in )ection = above is e;pressl"made sub@ect to and limited b" the ollowin! restrictions:

9. 1ou ma" distribute4 publicl" displa"4 publicl" perorm4 or publicl"di!itall" perorm the +ork onl" under the terms o this License4 and 1oumust include a cop" o4 or the /niorm #esource %dentiier or4 thisLicense with ever" cop" or phonorecord o the +ork 1ou distribute4

publicl" displa"4 publicl" perorm4 or publicl" di!itall" perorm. 1ou ma"not oer or impose an" terms on the +ork that alter or restrict the termso this License or the recipientsB e;ercise o the ri!hts !rantedhereunder. 1ou ma" not sublicense the +ork. 1ou must keep intact allnotices that reer to this License and to the disclaimer o warranties.1ou ma" not distribute4 publicl" displa"4 publicl" perorm4 or publicl"di!itall" perorm the +ork with an" technolo!ical measures that controlaccess or use o the +ork in a manner inconsistent with the terms o

47



this License A!reement. The above applies to the +ork as incorporatedin a Collective +ork4 but this does not reuire the Collective +ork apart

rom the +ork itsel to be made sub@ect to the terms o this License. %1ou create a Collective +ork4 upon notice rom an" Licensor 1ou must4to the e;tent practicable4 remove rom the Collective +ork an" credit asreuired b" clause >c64 as reuested. 2. 1ou ma" not e;ercise an" o the ri!hts !ranted to 1ou in)ection = above in an" manner that is primaril" intended or or directedtoward commercial advanta!e or private monetar" compensation. Thee;chan!e o the +ork or other cop"ri!hted works b" means o di!ital

ile-sharin! or otherwise shall not be considered to be intended or ordirected toward commercial advanta!e or private monetar"compensation4 provided there is no pa"ment o an" monetar"compensation in connection with the e;chan!e o cop"ri!hted works. =. % "ou distribute4 publicl" displa"4 publicl" perorm4 or publicl"di!itall" perorm the +ork4 1ou must keep intact all cop"ri!ht notices orthe +ork and provide4 reasonable to the medium or means 1ou areutili<in!: i6 the name o the 'ri!inal Author or pseudon"m4 iapplicable6 i supplied4 andor ii6 i the 'ri!inal Author andor Licensordesi!nate another part" or parties e.!. a sponsor institute4 publishin!entit"4 @ournal6 or attribution in LicensorBs cop"ri!ht notice4 terms oservice or b" other reasonable means4 the name o such part" orparties the title o the +ork i supplied and to the e;tent reasonabl"practicable4 the /niorm #esource %dentiier4 i an"4 that Licensorspeciies to be associated with the +ork4 unless such /#% does notreer to the cop"ri!ht notice or licensin! inormation or the +ork. )uchcredit ma" be implemented in an" reasonable manner provided4

however4 that in the case o a Collective +ork4 at a minimum suchcredit will appear where an" other comparable authorship creditappears and in a manner at least as prominent as such othercomparable authorship credit.

48



>.,or the avoidance o doubt4 where the +ork is a musicalcomposition: 9. *erormance #o"alties /nder lanket Licenses. Licensorreserves the e;clusive ri!ht to collect4 whether individuall" or via aperormance ri!hts societ" e.!. A)CA*4 (%4 )$)AC64 ro"alties or thepublic perormance or public di!ital perormance e.!. webcast6 o the+ork i that perormance is primaril" intended or or directed towardcommercial advanta!e or private monetar" compensation.

2. (echanical #i!hts and )tatutor" #o"alties. Licensorreserves the e;clusive ri!ht to collect4 whether individuall" or via amusic ri!hts a!enc" or desi!nated a!ent e.!. 0arr" ,o; A!enc"64ro"alties or an" phonorecord 1ou create rom the +ork coverversion6 and distribute4 sub@ect to the compulsor" license created b" 9/)C )ection 995 o the /) Cop"ri!ht Act or the euivalent in other @urisdictions64 i 1our distribution o such cover version is primaril"intended or or directed toward commercial advanta!e or privatemonetar" compensation. 5. +ebcastin! #i!hts and )tatutor" #o"alties. ,or the avoidanceo doubt4 where the +ork is a sound recordin!4 Licensor reserves thee;clusive ri!ht to collect4 whether individuall" or via a perormance-ri!hts societ" e.!. )ound$;chan!e64 ro"alties or the public di!italperormance e.!. webcast6 o the +ork4 sub@ect to the compulsor"license created b" 9 /)C )ection 99> o the /) Cop"ri!ht Act or theeuivalent in other @urisdictions64 i 1our public di!ital perormance isprimaril" intended or or directed toward commercial advanta!e or

private monetar" compensation.

5. #epresentations4 +arranties and Disclaimer

/NL$)) 'T0$#+%)$ (/T/ALL1 A#$$D 1 T0$ *A#T%$) %N+#%T%N4 L%C$N)'# ',,$#) T0$ +'#3 A)-%) AND (A3$) N'#$*#$)$NTAT%'N) '# +A##ANT%$) ', AN1 3%ND

49



C'NC$#N%N T0$ +'#34 $8*#$))4 %(*L%$D4 )TAT/T'#1 '#'T0$#+%)$4 %NCL/D%N4 +%T0'/T L%(%TAT%'N4 +A##ANT%$)

', T%TL$4 ($#C0ANT%%L%T14 ,%TN$)) ,'# A *A#T%C/LA#*/#*')$4 N'N%N,#%N$($NT4 '# T0$ A)$NC$ ', LAT$NT'# 'T0$# D$,$CT)4 ACC/#AC14 '# T0$ *#$)$NC$ ', A)$NC$ ', $##'#)4 +0$T0$# '# N'T D%)C'&$#AL$.)'($ E/#%)D%CT%'N) D' N'T ALL'+ T0$ $8CL/)%'N ',%(*L%$D +A##ANT%$)4 )' )/C0 $8CL/)%'N (A1 N'T A**L1T' 1'/.

?. Limitation on Liabilit". $8C$*T T' T0$ $8T$NT #$F/%#$D 1 A**L%CAL$ LA+4 %N N' $&$NT +%LL L%C$N)'# $ L%AL$ T'1'/ 'N AN1 L$AL T0$'#1 ,'# AN1 )*$C%AL4 %NC%D$NTAL4C'N)$F/$NT%AL4 */N%T%&$ '# $8$(*LA#1 DA(A$) A#%)%N'/T ', T0%) L%C$N)$ '# T0$ /)$ ', T0$ +'#34 $&$N %,L%C$N)'# 0A) $$N AD&%)$D ', T0$ *'))%%L%T1 ', )/C0DA(A$).

. Termination

9. This License and the ri!hts !ranted hereunder will terminateautomaticall" upon an" breach b" 1ou o the terms o this License.%ndividuals or entities who have received Collective +orks rom 1ouunder this License4 however4 will not have their licenses terminatedprovided such individuals or entities remain in ull compliance with

those licenses. )ections 94 24 54 ?4 4 and G will survive an" terminationo this License. 2. )ub@ect to the above terms and conditions4 the license !rantedhere is perpetual or the duration o the applicable cop"ri!ht in the+ork6. Notwithstandin! the above4 Licensor reserves the ri!ht torelease the +ork under dierent license terms or to stop distributin! the+ork at an" time provided4 however that an" such election will notserve to withdraw this License or an" other license that has been4 or isreuired to be4 !ranted under the terms o this License64 and this

73



License will continue in ull orce and eect unless terminated as statedabove.

G. (iscellaneous

9. $ach time 1ou distribute or publicl" di!itall" perorm the +orkor a Collective +ork4 the Licensor oers to the recipient a license to the+ork on the same terms and conditions as the license !ranted to 1ouunder this License.

2. % an" provision o this License is invalid or unenorceable underapplicable law4 it shall not aect the validit" or enorceabilit" o theremainder o the terms o this License4 and without urther action b" theparties to this a!reement4 such provision shall be reormed to theminimum e;tent necessar" to make such provision valid andenorceable. =. No term or provision o this License shall be deemed waivedand no breach consented to unless such waiver or consent shall be inwritin! and si!ned b" the part" to be char!ed with such waiver orconsent. >. This License constitutes the entire a!reement between theparties with respect to the +ork licensed here. There are nounderstandin!s4 a!reements or representations with respect to the+ork not speciied here. Licensor shall not be bound b" an" additionalprovisions that ma" appear in an" communication rom 1ou. ThisLicense ma" not be modiied without the mutual written a!reement othe Licensor and 1ou.

Creative Commons is not a part" to this License4 and makes nowarrant" whatsoever in connection with the +ork. Creative Commonswill not be liable to 1ou or an" part" on an" le!al theor" or an"dama!es whatsoever4 includin! without limitation an" !eneral4 special4incidental or conseuential dama!es arisin! in connection to thislicense. Notwithstandin! the ore!oin! two 26 sentences4 i Creative

71



Commons has e;pressl" identiied itsel as the Licensor hereunder4 itshall have all ri!hts and obli!ations o Licensor.

$;cept or the limited purpose o indicatin! to the public that the+ork is licensed under the CC*L4 neither part" will use the trademarkCreative Commons or an" related trademark or lo!o o CreativeCommons without the prior written consent o Creative Commons. An"permitted use will be in compliance with Creative CommonsB then-current trademark usa!e !uidelines4 as ma" be published on its websiteor otherwise made available upon reuest rom time to time.

Creative Commons ma" be contacted at http:creativecommons.or!.

theseaofaffliction

Documents

Transcript of theseaofaffliction