For Sunday Whirl: Wordle #17
http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/
Somewhere Near The Town of Denial
Unknown giant treads nether
world, fearing no stigma
from sporadic seditious acts
that crack plaster in walls
built to contain him.
He laughs,
while high overhead
tremors sway tufts
of tall grass enmeshed
on green hillside,
where devout are hindered
by pledge of faith in what
they believe should remain
forever sacred.
Elizabeth Crawford 8/14/11
Process Notes: This one took a somewhat torturous path, starting out blind and lost in darkness, then leaping toward rose-colored fairytale, but eventually sliding home to reality.
Soul's Music 
Elizabeth, I believe I’ve visited that town. The fairy tale elements of the piece are grim (haha), it’s no wonder we are blind to the giant. 🙂 This is a wonderful contribution to the week, there is something menacing in it, but it is a treat to read. Thank you for your notes, too.
~Brenda
Thanks Brenda, we are forever experts at denial in one form or another. This list had a definite dark feel to it. How much darker can it get then the subconscious aspect of the human mind? Being aware is a moment by moment process. And it certainly rang some chimes as I’ve been reading Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood.
Elizabeth
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A great read Elizabeth. I agree with Brenda this is menacing – if I listen carefully I’m sure I can hear this giant strolling around underground and laughing.
Mike, we fool ourselves if we choose to think we are free of such creatures. They exist and I personally believe they are jealous of that part of us that lives in daily light. It really does help to take the time to get to know them. What is a giant on the other side of a locked door, often turns out to be only a remnant of childhood. Some of them make quite good companions, but all of them call for our respect.
Elizabeth
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Wow, that is a stunning image and idea: a giant under the earth, above tall grasses. I totally love it!
Glad that you do Sherry. Those fairytales of childhood, often hold the archetypes of our adult years.
Elizabeth
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What a story, too. Reminded me as Brenda said of Grim fairy tale and of course giants and the Brothers Grimm with their dark and scary tales.
A lovely wordle whirl from dark to light and somewhere inbetween 🙂
Lol ddt, I often say that I exist in those in betweens. Most of us do. And those Grimm fairytales were an attempt to influence the maleable minds of children, and often did. They are rich with symbolism that continues to affect those of us who became familiar with them.
Elizabeth
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What an amazing use of the words!
Thanks Mama Zen, glad you enjoyed them.
Elizabeth
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Ooh I think you may have described ed one of those archetypal figures that lurk down in the subconscious depths and are magnified into giants, cracking plaster as they go.
I thought this was a brilliant use of the wordle words! (I struggled for a while with this weeks words.)
By the way, I LOVE your new header here! 🙂
Susannah, thank you much. I taught courses about the symbolism of those archetypes and how they affect us. It was always interesting to see what my students realized as we meandered through those fairytales from childhood. But, I did struggle with the words for a while, until they showed me the path they wanted to follow. And the header is from one of my first attempts to use the paint graphics program, years ago.
Elizabeth
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Love this! The title is perfect and the giant metaphor is brilliant.
Thank you Kelly, I thought a giant was better than an elephant, lol. And the words seemed to agree with that idea.
Elizabeth
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Elizabeth, a dark and menacing feel to this, I agree. The monster does live on the other side of the daylight door, it is much of our childhood fears, we carry through adult life. Excellent piece.
Pamela
Pamela, I know many individuals who never find that connection between the monster and childhood fear. The reading I’ve been doing lately had a great deal to do with where the poem ended up. Love it when that happens. Thanks for reading and glad you enjoyed it,
Elizabeth
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I agree that the giant is menacing, but we all can get beyone it with a bit of faith in ourselves. he can only laugh IF people do not stand up to him. If people give him power he takes it, but if they don’t he has none. An interesting read.
Mary, I agree with you, but also know many who choose to ignore or dismiss the monster’s presence, never realizing that it feeds on that fear and grows strong with it. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment,
Elizabeth
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Many times, abused children create a giant in their minds as a protector. They don’t physically protect, but become an imaginary playmate to help them cope. Sometimes, giants are the bright spot in the darkness.
Oh Mike, we could have such a long and interesting conversation about what you have just written. I believe many of those monsters come about from just such reality (abusive or not), and when sought out and acknowledged can become even brighter spots in the current moment. I have found that many of them are deep wells of creative energy, needing to be refocused. Thanks much for your comment,
Elizabeth
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Only with the dark, we can highlight the bright. How many get that. Not many. Except perhaps, poets…
hinder the tremors
Really good to see you, my friend. I personally believe that most creative people are those who have come to see the need for both the light and the dark, and use those energies in seeking and creating a balance. But will agree that is ture particularly with poets, lol.
Elizabeth
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Wizard Wordle Woman strikes again. The style of this poem reminded me strongly of Pilgrim’s Progress, and your skill with words shines through.
Sorry Viv, I’m getting too old to curtsy to compliments (deserved or otherwise). So will make due with a very sincere thank you and a quiet WOW! DID YOU SEE WHAT SHE SAID! Now, you watch, next week I’ll be completely and utterly tongue-tied and probably fall flat on my face. That’s okay, you made my week, woman, and I’ll go about humming and hugging myself. Thank you again,
Elizabeth
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One of my giants has been rumbling around underground lately, and I’ve had to put him in his place several times in the last couple of weeks. You poem hints at what could happen if we don’t remain vigilant of our giants’ activities…
Thanks Traci and you are correct. But, it would go much further because I think we need to do more than remain vigilant. I believe we need to get to know those giants and even retrain them and refocus their abilities. I just ran out of words, but there is always next week and the week after that, right?
Elizabeth
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Ugh….I’ve gotten waylaid on that path more than once before I recognized the rumblings of the underground giant. And, in response to your comment to Traci…yes…there’s always next week! 🙂
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Haha..I like your process notes. Made me smile.
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Wonderful response to the wordle! Good job!
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Interesting poem
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Elizabeth, I like that giant. He could be an earthquake or a more metaphorical representation of those subconscious rumblings we all have that shake our world. And that he’s laughing – I love that.Those people need to move out of Denial. By the way, is that near de Nile? (Sorry).
Richard
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