To listen to an audio recital of the poem, click here
I set out on a journey into rhyme
to see what freedom may be found
there
It does not take a great amount of
time
to understand I am already bound
there
The lines upon the page rule my
direction
The margins set the limit of my
scope
But infinite capacities of diction
defy the inclination to lose hope
A single word suffices to deliver
freedom to the dungeon or the cell
From Devil’s Island swim away
down-river
to where the butterflies enlighten
Hell
Then chain me like Prometheus’ eagle
compelled to watch the liver outlive
pain
Fetter me in garb stately and regal
constrained to clothe the emperor
again
Open up the boundaries and borders
Unlock the wrought iron prison gate
Issue me a free man’s marching
orders
Let gaol itself empower me to create
And give me words like God in the
beginning
imbued with absolute creative might
Atlases of Ariadne’s spinning
Labyrinths of waxen, wingèd light
Bury me in lexicons of leather
Weigh me down with coffin-loads of
texts
Lear my soul through heaths of
stormy weather
Guide me through the guide for the
perplexed
Virgil me on journeys beyond never
dictionaries my dreams misunderstood
Grant me strength to raise my sword
and sever
the knots that fetter the enchanted
wood
Sancho me on journeys beyond rhyming
Show me what exists beyond the found
Grant me more of tempo less of
timing
and let me know at last I am unbound
"A Journey Into Rhyme" is published in "Welcome To My World, Selected Poems 1973-2013", The Argaman Press. Click here to purchase the book.
You can find David Prashker at:
Copyright © 2014 David Prashker
All rights reserved
The Argaman Press
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