Welcome to The Tangled Branch!  Join us.

He Who Knows

General Poetry - post, comment, review, critique
indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

He Who Knows

Post by indar » Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:03 pm

He Who Knows

We were never certain if he fully understood Heidegger
but when he arrived he delivered a full hour lecture to God
on being-and-nothingness, being-in-the-world
and the existential crises of the human condition
stated exactly like the English translations from German
and you could hear the hyphenated, run-on word combinations
and you can be sure that, like I always did, God fell asleep
until Earl launched into one of his diatribes on fair or rather
the non-existence of an absolute fair
followed by a long, loud lament on the state of the world
and the stupidity of the current administration
and then, while the angels exchanged looks, he ordered Pete
to shut the damned gate, turned to God's son
who had just wandered in to check out the action
and asked him if he had been born in a god-damned barn.

User avatar
Mark
Posts: 586
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:19 am

Re: He Who Knows

Post by Mark » Sat Dec 08, 2018 2:31 pm

Do they still make professors like that? Enjoyed the read, the piece is prosy but rhythmic. 

Matty11
Posts: 1585
Joined: Thu Jan 11, 2018 7:58 pm

Re: He Who Knows

Post by Matty11 » Sat Dec 08, 2018 8:23 pm

The piece sustained my interest Indar. There was a surface fun to the poem. Of course, the underlying reality of this chaotic world is scary.

best

Phil

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: He Who Knows

Post by indar » Sat Dec 08, 2018 10:37 pm

Do they still make professors like that? Enjoyed the read, the piece is prosy but rhythmic.

That was no professor that was my ex-husband

I will die prosy I guess---its a very old write--one that amuses me at least---thanks Mark
;)

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: He Who Knows

Post by indar » Sat Dec 08, 2018 11:07 pm

The piece sustained my interest Indar. There was a surface fun to the poem. Of course, the underlying reality of this chaotic world is scary.

Thanks for the read and comments Phil You nailed my ambivilous feelings toward the subject of this one

User avatar
Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: He Who Knows

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Sun Dec 09, 2018 8:14 am

I had not previously imagined hollering at god's son for not closing the gate, after spouting a lengthy and loud lament about the lack of absolute fairness (no doubt as a Platonic form). The Speaker presents this character with seeming raised eyebrows and a reserved sense of awe. Is he the authority, or the proverbial train-wreck - no matter, all eyes are on him. Judgments too, it seems, and for good reason. Vastly entertaining, Indar!

T

Tim J Brennan

Re: He Who Knows

Post by Tim J Brennan » Sun Dec 09, 2018 10:48 am

indar wrote:
Sat Dec 08, 2018 1:03 pm
He Who Knows

We were never certain if he fully understood Heidegger
but when he arrived he delivered a full hour lecture to God
on being-and-nothingness, being-in-the-world
and the existential crises of the human condition
stated exactly like the English translations from German
and you could hear the hyphenated, run-on word combinations
and you can be sure that, like I always did, God fell asleep
until Earl launched into one of his diatribes on fair or rather
the non-existence of an absolute fair
followed by a long, loud lament on the state of the world
and the stupidity of the current administration
and then, while the angels exchanged looks, he ordered Pete
to shut the damned gate, turned to God's son
who had just wandered in to check out the action
and asked him if he had been born in a god-damned barn.

Does anyone fully understand Heidegger? People who claim they do would make good "-ex's" I would think. This is really good and funny yet sad, all at the same time. Three God mentions and two damns in the same poem might be too much, but it's not my poem.

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: He Who Knows

Post by indar » Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:27 am

Good to see you back here commenting T., I hope all is well. The answer is---absolutist train wreck--despite lip service to Heidegger. Intent of poem was to entertain. Thanks for the read and feedback :)

indar
Posts: 2908
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 8:00 am

Re: He Who Knows

Post by indar » Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:30 am

Does anyone fully understand Heidegger? People who claim they do would make good "-ex's" I would think.

Indeed---especially when long windy quotes are applied to the everyday doings of others around the "authoritative presence" in the kitchen :D Thanks for the read and insight, Tim

User avatar
Tracy Mitchell
Posts: 3179
Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:58 pm

Re: He Who Knows

Post by Tracy Mitchell » Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:37 am

indar wrote:
Sun Dec 09, 2018 11:27 am
Good to see you back here commenting T., I hope all is well. The answer is---absolutist train wreck--despite lip service to Heidegger. Intent of poem was to entertain. Thanks for the read and feedback :)

You met that goal in spades!

I forgot to say how effective I thought the presentation of this is in one long, excited and breathless sentence, which suggests a parallel to the long rants the Speaker absorbs from this intellectualizing douche nozzle.

Again, Cheers.

Post Reply