A common man marvels at uncommon things. A wise man marvels at the commonplace. CONFUCIUS

Sunday 20 June 2010

Sweet Nothing


Unpack the vine
Uncurl unwind
Unpack the mind

Sweet nothing

Was waiting for you
All the time
Nothing to find

Suck on the grape
Puncture its skin
Juice of the moment
Sweet but thin

Unpack the world
There's space within
Between the sky
And the ocean's rim

Unpack the vine
Uncurl unwind
Unfold the dream
Unfurl the sign

Sweet nothing


Was waiting for you
All the time
And you didn't even notice

Sweet nothing

Easy when there's
Nothing to find

Sweet sweet nothing

I woke just now at dawn with this poem half-created in my head, so I thought I'd better write it down before I lost it. I haven't been inspired to write any poems for many weeks, probably since the time I wrote this poem about my sister in March - which was also mostly formed in my unconscious mind while asleep.

12 comments:

Lorenzo — Alchemist's Pillow said...

"Sweet nothing" is probably a fitting description of "hypnopompia" that magical transitional time between sleep and awakening. And if your on the coast of Sicily taking, in the sea and sky, I guess that makes it all the more magical.

I remember that cornflower blue poem ...

The Weaver of Grass said...

Interesting Robert - I often wake with half-formed poems in my head and I agree- if you don't write them down straight away they vanish with the night.

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

You captured such richness ... such wisdom here. I have often wondered how many gifts from the unconscious I have missed ... Well, it is probably registered somewhere in my body/mind. Thank you for sharing this sweet nothing something!

HKatz said...

My favorite lines:

Suck on the grape
Puncture its skin
Juice of the moment
Sweet but thin


(It suggests hunger, wanting to devour, to be nourished... but also a kind of wistfulness, a sense that as sweet as it is you're not sated.)

am said...

Unpack the world
There's space within
Between the sky
And the ocean's rim

Maybe that's why I have spent so much time looking at ocean and sky like that in your photo.

Beautiful poem and photo. Good to read your poem of 3 months ago again, too.

verena said...

whoa.....!

George said...

What a pleasure, Robert, to return and find such wonderful and meaningful poetry. I also went back and read "Cornflower Blue," which was moving beyond words. You have a great gift and I hope you continue to share it with us.

Tramp said...

Lovely simplicity in this piece, SW.
A few days ago you spoke of "work flowing into holidays and vice versa."
This is obviously the versa flowing from your holiday with a hint of vice!
The mind churns away sorting through memories and experiences while we think we are resting.
When I tried to keep a handwritten journal I found that I would forget details of what I'd done or how I felt if I didn't write it down before I went to sleep...Tramp

The Solitary Walker said...

You have uncannily anticipated my latest post, Tramp - more than just a hint of vice here..!

The Solitary Walker said...

Thanks everyone for your kind comments on my poem. Lorenzo - yes, I think that sheds some light on it, thanks for this.

CaroleH said...

Your poem, more a meditation, leaves me feeling, serene, content, for the first time today. Thankyou for sharing.

The Solitary Walker said...

And thanks for your comment, CarloleH. I'm glad the poem communicated something to you.