"We lit twilight candles and bowed our thanks" ... you have so many images in this piece that make me want to suck the juice out of every one of them.
... Our time fueled itself brief ... leftover doubts ... as stakes into the sacrificial ground ... left our fears pinned as moths on the collector’s cork.
it feels like a new language brewing or ancient wisdom being channeled.
Thanks Joyce. I do enjoying creating these pieces, and I'm glad to hear that other folks enjoy them, too. I appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment!
This is an incredibly lyrical and moving piece Victor, and I got just a little lost at the end. At the risk of sounding VERY naive, I just have to confirm your intent here. Your last two paragraphs - is that something you personally believe humans are capable of? Or are you being cynically utopian? (Sorry if that sounds ignorant.)
Hi Sharron and thanks for reading and commenting. To answer your question: I am not trying to be cynical. I do believe that it's possible. I'm what you might call a realistic idealist. That is, it's possible, but it's going to take a long time. I get it that things look bleak at times. Hell, I write from that dark direction, too as a form of contrast and illumination, I'd say. Meanwhile, I try to do my part the best I can, which of course has its ups and downs. And don't worry about being naive, yours is a good question, and I've certainty been called naive myself a few times :)
My silly questions, if nothing else, let you know that I care enough about what you have written to ask! It is a good thing. Thanks for this reply. Something to think about. Our readers all interpret what we write according to their own capacity... I am resigned to it.
There's no silly questions, all is fine, and welcome. And you are right: people interpret according to the background, experience, capacity, and other factors. I expect that, welcome it and celebrate it. When I see other people's interpretations, it helps me see farther.
I love the sentiment of returning, not giving up but withdrawing from the larger chaos of the world and accepting that we are "fleeting beings, trapped between grass and sky, beings that must make the best of each storm, each birth, and each passing."
Thanks Jim. I try to retreat, as you say, from the "larger chaos." Of course, it doesn't always work for me. Great, thought provoking comment my friend. Your phrase gets my mental wheels turning....
I want to inhabit this world of nature and fresh fruit and family and friends. Thank you for conjuring it and putting it into words. I also spent more time than I have a right to looking at that image of horses on a beach. OK, back to reality...
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mike. The image is from Substack's internal generator. It does pretty good, I think. This world is possible; maybe not for a (long) while, but we're getting there, slowly. "You can say I'm a dreamer..." (thank you John Lennon)
This is the way to live the afterlife and omg I am in love with the "collector's cork" because i often try to use that sort of "pinned imagery" but it oft feels like a platitude, but you made it work technically and emotionally with that "collectors' cork" line - on so many levels.
Thanks Trilety. I love your interpretation of the afterlife aspect. I did not see that, but then I went back and said oh, yeah... I get it. I didn't consciously intend on that direction, but you've helped me see it. Thanks again!
![Dynamic Creed [Oddified Fiction]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_36,h_36,c_fill,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0e1033d7-484e-4f07-8ca4-9f5e73fde2ba_500x500.png)
"We lit twilight candles and bowed our thanks" ... you have so many images in this piece that make me want to suck the juice out of every one of them.
... Our time fueled itself brief ... leftover doubts ... as stakes into the sacrificial ground ... left our fears pinned as moths on the collector’s cork.
it feels like a new language brewing or ancient wisdom being channeled.
Thanks Joyce. I do enjoying creating these pieces, and I'm glad to hear that other folks enjoy them, too. I appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment!
This is an incredibly lyrical and moving piece Victor, and I got just a little lost at the end. At the risk of sounding VERY naive, I just have to confirm your intent here. Your last two paragraphs - is that something you personally believe humans are capable of? Or are you being cynically utopian? (Sorry if that sounds ignorant.)
Hi Sharron and thanks for reading and commenting. To answer your question: I am not trying to be cynical. I do believe that it's possible. I'm what you might call a realistic idealist. That is, it's possible, but it's going to take a long time. I get it that things look bleak at times. Hell, I write from that dark direction, too as a form of contrast and illumination, I'd say. Meanwhile, I try to do my part the best I can, which of course has its ups and downs. And don't worry about being naive, yours is a good question, and I've certainty been called naive myself a few times :)
My silly questions, if nothing else, let you know that I care enough about what you have written to ask! It is a good thing. Thanks for this reply. Something to think about. Our readers all interpret what we write according to their own capacity... I am resigned to it.
There's no silly questions, all is fine, and welcome. And you are right: people interpret according to the background, experience, capacity, and other factors. I expect that, welcome it and celebrate it. When I see other people's interpretations, it helps me see farther.
I love the sentiment of returning, not giving up but withdrawing from the larger chaos of the world and accepting that we are "fleeting beings, trapped between grass and sky, beings that must make the best of each storm, each birth, and each passing."
Thanks Jim. I try to retreat, as you say, from the "larger chaos." Of course, it doesn't always work for me. Great, thought provoking comment my friend. Your phrase gets my mental wheels turning....
I want to inhabit this world of nature and fresh fruit and family and friends. Thank you for conjuring it and putting it into words. I also spent more time than I have a right to looking at that image of horses on a beach. OK, back to reality...
Thanks for reading and commenting, Mike. The image is from Substack's internal generator. It does pretty good, I think. This world is possible; maybe not for a (long) while, but we're getting there, slowly. "You can say I'm a dreamer..." (thank you John Lennon)
This is the way to live the afterlife and omg I am in love with the "collector's cork" because i often try to use that sort of "pinned imagery" but it oft feels like a platitude, but you made it work technically and emotionally with that "collectors' cork" line - on so many levels.
Thanks Trilety. I love your interpretation of the afterlife aspect. I did not see that, but then I went back and said oh, yeah... I get it. I didn't consciously intend on that direction, but you've helped me see it. Thanks again!
Hhaha I've had that happen with my writing and readers, and it's always a shocking delight!