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The Oarsman The poems come out of a dead plenitude that only seems alive for motion. An oarsman, with words his wood, his life made oars, reaches back for strength, then down, and breaks the water. It is not what was seen on the river, nor any village ahead, nor any such notion that drives him on towards the ocean. It is mere motion, the spray from the blades his mask of achievement, the regular rhythm an evasion through order: these things defer acquaintance, escape by his agile hands what he would not allow, what will come in its time and without him, which will fix him, and bolt him down, with the rocks and their roots in the land. |
This Poem was Critiqued By: Tony P Spicuglia On Date: 2014-11-28 10:10:57
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Sir, were I to characterize the moment, an autobiographical indices, it would take the oarsman too damn long to find the fishing grounds, and come to the conclusion that to splay on the rocks is an inveterate response.
I guess, the use of dead plenitude was as apropos as inaccurate. But who can tell, right?
The poetry aside, this took me immediately to the “old man and the sea”, really the only Hemingway piece that moved me to passion. BTW, of Hemingway, he wrote poetry but was obviously not a poet. It could never survive the cut throat assessments of on line poetry experts.
Back to my, (by the way, I sit in the back of the boat watching the oarsman, not planning on taking a turn, although out of politeness I offer, always hoping he says no. I do hate rowing a boat though I’ve done a lot of it), inane comments. I wondered in reading what the writer believes of those times when rowing was unnecessary. For most time, I think that is more the answer than the times of fighting the current for motion in life. If the current is correct, only lowering the oar as a steer is necessary, well forgive my idiotic forbearance.
I liked this piece a lot. It made me think of you, me, life, hemingway’s masterpiece, and the rocks and roots of my journey (land).
Well done sir; in a nautically organic manner.