Tag: OldPoem

Things Change

~ joanvinallcox ~ Leave a comment

Many years ago, I had to take a course in Anglo-Saxon literature. It was intense because I was one of only 3 students so I couldn’t even skip occasionally – and I would have liked to. The only thing I remember from that course was this chorus from a long poem. As I remember it, (not according to the modern translation,) the poem was about feasting at the high table, followed by the chorus – 

“That passed away, so shall this.”

Later, another verse about being in the middle of a storm on the North Sea, followed, of course, by the chorus –

“That passed away, so shall this.”

When I think of the Biblical quote about there being a time for everything, or the Buddhist concept of impermanence, I remember the message of this Anglo-Saxon poem – everything changes; nothing stays the same.

Anxiety Poem

~ joanvinallcox ~ Leave a comment

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In The Midst

There’s been an accident
at the intersection
near my parents

and they are overdue.

Their neighbour answers
the phone – a confused stranger
after her stroke –

and speaks of flashing red lights.

Their friend with cancer is hysterical
on the phone
with no one in the house

and no answers.

As I pick up my car
keys to search,
the phone rings:

It is my child’s school; there’s been an accident.

Writing and Reading (Old Tech)

~ joanvinallcox ~ Leave a comment

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You are reading
this,
far away
from the time and place
where/when synapses
fired
their ballet
and I thought
a feeling
a rhythm
holding these words –
first sliding in black
ink
on a page,
waiting
for synapses
and time
and fingers
taping
green life
through electric connections to a screen
that holds
and releases
thoughts, words
reconstituted
regained
and printing up,
through black tape,
in a rhythm
of line and page
these words
which bend
and fold –

and, enveloped, travel
to be studied,
held,
approved.
A bored stranger submits
these words,
through the finger ballet, to the machine that prints
these words
for you
to read
now.