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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GEO-BESTIARY: 17, by JAMES HARRISON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I was sent far from my land of bears Last Line: And learned to bob like an apple on the river's surface. Alternate Author Name(s): Harrison, Jim Subject(s): Insanity; Madness; Mental Illness | |||
I was sent far from my land of bears. It wasn't an asylum but a resting place to get well buttoned-up against my fugal state wherein whirl is both the king and queen, the brain-gods who stir a thousand revolutions a second the contents of this graying cocotte. Stop it please. Please stop it please. There was one other poet from Yankeeland who rubbed himself, including private parts, with sandpaper. His doctor searched his room, even his anus where he had secreted a tightly bound roll. Across the wide yard and women's quarters a lovely soprano sang TV jingles. One day it was, "Fly the friendly skies of United," over and over. Her friend fed her peanut butter and marshmallows to quell her voice, plus a daily goblet of Thorazine. If you dive down deep enough there are no words to bring you up. Not my problem. If you fly too high there are no words to help you land. I went back to my land of bears and learned to bob like an apple on the river's surface. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE PARENTS OF PSYCHOTIC CHILDREN by MARVIN BELL VISITS TO ST. ELIZABETHS by ELIZABETH BISHOP FOR THE MAD by LUCILLE CLIFTON STONEHENGE by ALBERT GOLDBARTH DAY ROOM: ST. ELIZABETHS HOSPITAL by MICHAEL S. HARPER SEELE IN RAUM by RANDALL JARRELL THE IDEA OF BALANCE IS TO BE FOUND IN HERONS AND LOONS by JAMES HARRISON |
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