Wednesday, February 20, 2008

A train, outbound (2007)


It takes minutes to leave the city. But to leave the city, mentally…

There are always nervous questions prior to departure. You must peel these off.

See this industrial district? It has fled nature.

Likewise I sometimes believe writing is an avoidance; you opt for a conversation with yourself. Living very far apart.


The houses have satellite dishes as standard; ears to the wind. Powerline towers, like posts of an enormous fence. These are and are not life-conductors.

Fields in which to expand, cease? As if cities were centres of forgetting. Gazing out the window, I swim the wild grass.


Published in Shadowtrain #23, October 2009.
 

Below: 'Powersource' by Patrice Lynne Young

7 comments:

  1. "Likewise I sometimes believe writing is an avoidance; you opt for a conversation with yourself."

    this sentence has been playing over and over in my mind since i read it earlier tonight, because it is so goddamn true.

    well crafted words.

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  2. Thanks for your comment, anonymous poster!

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  3. Likewise I sometimes believe writing is an avoidance; you opt for a conversation with yourself. Living very far apart.

    yes!

    And that's the line that resonates with me as well... I may be a painter, but I must have the soul of a writer. Love the poem. Would you allow me to place your poem (with full credit to you of course) next to "Powersource" in my November show?

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  4. Patrice, that would be wonderful. I'd be honoured! :)

    Would you mind if I include a graphic of the painting (with attribution and a link) in this post?

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  5. Stu!

    Thank you so much. I'll take a photo of the show - and yes, I'd be honored if you'd care to use my painting as an illustration.

    I get really pumped about making great connections...

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  6. Somehow I managed to miss getting a decent photo of our chance operations "collaboration" in November.

    I'm a featured artist in January at the Sautee-Nacoochee Gallery - and this time I will take my own camera and send you a shot.

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  7. No worries, Patrice.

    I'm glad to hear your work's being featured around the place.

    How was the November show? :)

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