©5-14-2019, Olan L. Smith
Canto I
Tumultuous
Halfway through my life I fell upon my knee,
In the field of corn I awoke, as lifted up, and
Dropped by a mighty wind. Tall stalks flattened,
Strewn in a vortex, I was amazed I survived.
What world was I on, who was I, even more, what
Animal was I? All memory erased I was expunged.
I saw the world from the view of a pinprick punched
Into my awareness. I wondered, and what I saw
Was order. A holy order of geometry, of wholeness.
I cannot remember who I am, but I am. I stand in
The middle of a field destroyed, but I must push
Forward. Will my fate be that of lambs slain by
The butchers of life? I see the clouds part, the rains
Stop, and the winds calm. As my vision widens I know
I am on Earth. Planet Earth blessed are you by the gods.
As Helios senses me I view many paths to him,
As I ponder which ray will lead me to my thoughts?
Now lost in a dark prison of tangle nerves, and delusions.
I remember this fear returned from youth, of my elders
Who in there agedness are stripped of self, and abandon
By the gods. As a young lad I was overly offset,
Pompous, thinking this would never happen to me,
But here I stand in the middle of a whirlwind grasping
For a blade of grass, straight and without knots.
At night I awake, short of breath from a wandering dream,
Of dreamers dreaming reality. I am disoriented,
In the field of corn. Who is left to define me, my life,
My words, and my works? So terra firma supports me
For a while longer, until I am lowered into the ground,
One more descent into the darkness only rise past earth
To new life. I am new, is this rebirth, or only a momentary
Pause to remind me of my origins, I am not of this world.
No, not for a moment is Earth my home. I come from the stars.
My view widens more. I am at a precipice in the field of corn.
The Earth opens its mouth to swallow me, lead me to the depth
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Poems from the Quill, by Olan L. Smith
Poetry"Poems from the Quill" is where I place current works that don't fall into other collections. It is here you will find obscure poems that range from constraint to free-verse. I began this collection as a contest entry, years ago, for what was then t...
