The Elephant Trap
#1
When something pretends to be authentic
it’s a rabbit that grows up too slowly;
and everything goes too slowly,
and you ask yourself
—Should I grow up, yet,
between where the spirit enters
and leaves through the same door?
Or, am I more than my past
that gave birth to an anger
that fights, tooth and nail,
for my future,

my freedom,
and my Wile E. Coyote plots to escape it?
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#2
(05-15-2017, 08:38 AM)shemthepenman Wrote:  When something pretends to be authentic
it’s a rabbit that grows up too slowly;
and everything goes too slowly,
and you ask yourself
—Should I grow up, yet,
between where the spirit enters
and leaves through the same door?
Or, am I more than my past
that gave birth to an anger
that fights, tooth and nail,
for my future,

my freedom,
and my Wile E. Coyote plots to escape it?

Must admit to finding this poem difficult.  Best so far is to view the whole as a tapestry (title included) with numerous brilliant scenes that don't quite come together into one story (for me).  Particularly good are "between where the spirit enters..." and the equivocal subject of the plots to escape (future or freedom?)  Sense resistance to blank-slate and "you are what you eat" determinism.

Demands much thought, which is good, and rewards it, which is better.  Fun, yes.

(Is Wile E. Coyote religious?  Probably... he spends time in the afterlife, frequently.  And is always resurrected. Smile   )
feedback award Non-practicing atheist
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#3
thanks. i a,m glad you enjoyed it.
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#4
(05-15-2017, 08:38 AM)shemthepenman Wrote:  When something pretends to be authentic
it’s a rabbit that grows up too slowly;
and everything goes too slowly,
and you ask yourself
—Should I grow up, yet,
between where the spirit enters
and leaves through the same door?
Or, am I more than my past
that gave birth to an anger
that fights, tooth and nail,
for my future,

my freedom,
and my Wile E. Coyote plots to escape it?

shem,

I too found it hard to connect the poem and it brings complex questions into light. Should I grow up in the middle; enter and exit through the same door? It just doesn't feel fun but does illustrate introspection. And maybe perfecting such an element of the work, breaking the questions down and bringing the write together is a key to a more success poem.

I do like it.

Hope I've helped,

Luna
In your own, each bone comes alive
the skeleton jangles in its perfunctory sleeve....

(Chris Martin)
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#5
(05-19-2017, 02:15 AM)LunaDeLore Wrote:  shem,

I too found it hard to connect the poem and it brings complex questions into light. Should I grow up in the middle; enter and exit through the same door? It just doesn't feel fun but does illustrate introspection. And maybe perfecting such an element of the work, breaking the questions down and bringing the write together is a key to a more success poem.

I do like it.

Hope I've helped,

Luna

thanks.
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#6
(05-15-2017, 08:38 AM)shemthepenman Wrote:  When something pretends to be authentic
it’s a rabbit that grows up too slowly;
and everything goes too slowly,
and you ask yourself
—Should I grow up, yet,
between where the spirit enters
and leaves through the same door?
Or, am I more than my past
that gave birth to an anger
that fights, tooth and nail,
for my future,

my freedom,
and my Wile E. Coyote plots to escape it?



I like that it evokes thought (as was said before).

wild guesses about the meaning:
the rabbit growing up too slowly..
hmm but authentic rabbits grow up pretty fast.. so if you slow the process down too much you´d produce some monster-rabbit (the elephant? metaphor for over-thinking?).
so.. no, stay the road runner, feels the more authentic reaction to fighting or fleeing anger.
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