16 Comments
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Josh Datko's avatar

How bad of condition is the ship if the Captain himself is out scouring for nails! :) but in sincerity, very nice .

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James Hart's avatar

I think how I saw it was that the ship is in very bad condition indeed! Thanks, man, this was a weird one to work on. Not exactly "fun" but helpful, hopefully?

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Hasse's avatar

This was sad, but symbolically beautiful. The imagery slowly being revealed and concluding with the captain's selfish act. Terrifying and timeless.

It also strikes a nice balance between being open to interpretation and having a clear intended message. It makes it very satisfying to engage with, in my opinion.

My interpretation of it evolved as I read it, and I landed somewhere in a McGilchrist-ian territory. Not that it should be "reduced" to that; the poetry becomes its own message and lands, unfolds, and lingers in a way that could never be reduced.

Beautiful poem, James!

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James Hart's avatar

Thanks so much, Hasse, and thank you for sharing it! It’s funny you mention that, that’s exactly what I had in mind also. It started out as a “McGilchrist-ian” kind of idea, but I really tried to let it go where it wanted to go and not constrain it too much.

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Hasse's avatar

10 points for me! :)

Have you considered diving into his magnum opus? I have a feeling you might really like it. It is such a deep and broad work on the matter. I read "The Matter With Things" a couple of years ago, and it had a very deep effect on me.

At 1400 pages, it isn't a quick read though...

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Poetry for sanity's avatar

This is a fantastic tale of warning. It feels related to the old tales and songs shared by the Fire to educate. Well Done ! I love it

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James Hart's avatar

Thank you! That’s how it felt to me, too, when I was working on it. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

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Marian L Thorpe's avatar

Well, that was disturbing. (That's praise, by the way.)

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James Hart's avatar

Disturbing for me, too! But like I told Ernie, I personally saw it as a cautionary tale. (Here's hoping, anyway.)

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erniet's avatar

Wow, very sad...

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James Hart's avatar

Indeed. I see it as a cautionary tale, though. Something that isn't going to happen soon, but might eventually if we don't watch our trajectory very closely.

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erniet's avatar

I’m at the age where parents (mine, my wife’s, my friends’) are dying…so the whole old woman alone in her last days kind of hit home…

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James Hart's avatar

Ah man, I’m sorry to hear that. :(

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J. Tullius's avatar

Really lovely. There's a legend behind this.

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James Hart's avatar

Thanks, J. I feel that there likely is as well.

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JessMcK's avatar

Great flow, and easy to read. I really like this verse in particular:

"The papers beside her were torn and disheveled,

The sunlight had yellowed each page;

With none left to write to, her inkwell had hardened,

Its pigment now crazen with age."

The ink hardening and drying...good imagery.

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