Tangerine Sky (with apologies to Kottonmouth Kings)

Post by **indar** » Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:25 pm

Tangerine Sky

C.S. Lewis foresaw this,
The Head, disembodied,
afloat in a snarl
of tubes and gadgets
that keep it alive--
brainless mainly,
but useful
to its minions
who groom and ego-feed,
tend the machinery,
lay awake
nights, bathed
in sweat lest
it grow unpredictable
appendages, rear up
and initiate
the final distraction.

Post by **Tracy Mitchell** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 9:33 am

Well, Indar – you write a dystopian nightmare poem. I see a thumbnail adaptation of That Hideous Strength, a Lewis sci-fi gem, which details social control by a [near] mindless governmental structure. There is more to this with which I grapple.

I find some optimism from the title and invocation of Kottomouth Kings, as it seems an invitation to us to “Say goodbye to a tangerine sky say hello say hello to tomorrow. . . .” I can’t help but equate the ‘tangerine” reference to His Current Incumbancy. Which invites reference to this– “. . . when you say goodbye / To a tangerine sky you lose your pain lose your fear lose your sorrow. . . .” So that would be the optimism of the poem.

The text, however, draws a bleak picture.

I can’t wait to hear Mark weigh in on this.

Thanks for posting.

Cheers.

T

Post by **indar** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 12:50 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJKMji2688M

Post by **Tracy Mitchell** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 1:18 pm

What a mood-lifter! Vera Lynn -- indeed.

Post by **indar** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 1:28 pm

Do you recognize the song as it was used as part of the score in the movie Dr. Strangelove?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4VlruVG81w

Tracy you got the CS Lewis book, the gist of the KMK lyrics and what I implied by my use of "tangerine" in reference to the great orange one.

Post by **Tracy Mitchell** » Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:24 pm

No, I missed the Dr. Strangelove reference. Glad I got some of the other references / allusions / illusions.

I am liking the poem more and more as I read it more.

Cheers.

T

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Jul 31, 2019 4:41 am

ANother one whose references escaped me but which I enjoyed just for what it is. The message is so loud and clear.
Dave

Post by **indar** » Wed Jul 31, 2019 12:20 pm

Thanks Dave,

Good to hear you "got it" without knowing some of the things it refers to.

poet-e · Post by **poet-e** » Wed Sep 18, 2019 1:31 pm

Love the lang/images. Made me wanna reread a few times!

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