Sunday, September 7, 2014

No Third Thing



Only so much room in a lifeboat,
half-capacity sixareen.  Bushel basket.
Butcher.  Baker.  Maybe
a candlestick-maker;
the notables cross over
in threesomes.

Synchronicities flutter in threes,
casually.  Historically informed,
hinting at world harmony;
a table of elements
that dissolves on the tongue
like rice paper, moths.

This time it's fresh;
just the northeast wind.  
Ball of string.  Buttermilk sky.
A buoyant list scrawled
on a paper kite:

1.  I am loved
2.  There is solace

There is no third thing.



tk/September 2014




Beautiful read by R.A.D. Stainforth...and a bit of music as well...





22 comments:

  1. love all the different aspects of this...the kite..the rice paper...buttermilk...so inspiring ...xx

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  2. ai ai.......what a finish. Beautiful tapestry of words..

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  3. " A buoyant list scrawled
    on a paper kite" - My kind of list.

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  4. Indeed, you are loved. I hope for you there is solace.

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  5. One doesn't need a third thing. Lovely.

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  6. "1. I am loved
    2. There is solace

    There is no third thing.

    Interesting indeed!!

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  7. PEACE and LOVE says it all, and you said it WELL, Tess. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  8. Trapped in her exiatential binary , the operating third continued to elude her , menage a trois in abstentia ...but all is not lost !

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  9. I really liked this - it has a haunting quality...

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  10. Love the otherworldly feel of this poem ... the list on the kite.

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  11. Loved indeed....the poet and the lover of life...there is not third thing. A breathtaking write Tess!!

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  12. Well you know what they say, three is a crowd, and one and two are all one needs! I never thought of putting a list on kite, but I like the idea. So much freshness throughout, very pleasing.

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  13. Unique writing, Tess!

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  14. Synchronicities flutter in threes, that is so true in life..no need for a third thing the first two are enough..

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  15. The third thing: beautiful writing...

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  16. Really feel the harmony in your poem, Tess :)x

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  17. Tess, Tess... there is no third Tess. I and I and I, built of ones and zeroes, LOVE THIS! Love and Light, S

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  18. When there is love & solace, there is light & life is bright :)

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  19. Love and solace ... do we need anything else? :-)

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  20. The third thing comes, but don't worry about that. Lovely images as always.

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  21. Wonderful. I love the last line, how it so simply reinforces everything else in the poem.

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  22. Contentment often is "simple". Just let the "third" thing be carried off on the breeze - whatever it is it isn't necessary. :) Lovely!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)