20 Comments
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Sloan Bashinsky's avatar

When I watch TV news programs for a few minutes, it seems I see a lot of mental illness. I sometimes wonder about my own sanity. I think the basic definition of insanity is being out of touch with reality. Applying that to, say, America today, the home of the brave and the land of the free seems like a giant nuthouse. A southern belle I met online several years ago, and since then we have had many conversations on FB, as she has no telephone, once shared a poem that fell out of her in a dark time, which I told her today, I hoped someone read at her wake.

"Pigs In Mud"

All want the security of the well fed pig.

Horror at the baseness unrecognized.

A lifetime spent in shirt stuffing.

And pen comparison.

Is truth more palatable when honeyed?

Is a stark soulscape less so with the eyes of Monet?

May my affectations always be understood.

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Weston Parker's avatar

boy that's an interesting thing.

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Matt Cardin's avatar

This poem captures the emotional resonance of October and autumn as well as any I've read. Not just a standard celebration of fall colors and cooling weather etc. but a real, deep entanglement of subjectivity and objectivity in the fact of the month's and the season's palpable experiential presence, as processed and communicated through the lens of a sensitively observant human being.

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A Saucer-full's avatar

This is my favorite world to be in! I wish October could last another month.

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Joe's avatar

Very very beautiful. I like the photo of the poet. He looks troubled, but writes like an angel.

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Berkana's avatar

Interesting a friend of mine here on substack community as well

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fred el bekkay's avatar

We do not often think of these autumn leaves that litter books

Distinct portraits in September colours

Thanks to Outlaws for this poetry

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Neil Barker's avatar

I like how the opening part "Books litter the bed..." and the closing line "The books of fall litter the bed." connect and sort of close a loop of sorts. On my walk this morning experienced something similar with gray overcast skies and the wind stripping the leaves from many trees. Love that photo as the one tree (Maple?) next to the red barn is doing its best to hold onto their leaves while others around are nearly bare.

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David's avatar

Love how sparse this poem is, and end of season falling vibes move me

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Dollyboy's avatar

Didn't think much of that. Too many repeated motifs and "this pear tastes good" is a throw away line.

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Not My Real Name Either's avatar

I liked the idea if leaves and books falling. Agree about the pear line. Is this a poetic form ? Its almost a Japanese sound

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Patris's avatar

Unpatterned is its loveliest feature.

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Bee Gee's avatar

Rain and books...take two and call me in the morning. Fantastic.

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Victory Palace's avatar

my impression of October fwiw...

A Phoenix prowls through the neighborhood

as trees sing in multicolored flames...

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Ime Eshiet's avatar

Fall and rain falling

Crispy Apples and

The leaves falling

Evokes a sense of refreshing and rejuvenation.

It is time for a new life!

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David Picariello's avatar

Our News broadcasts are rife with Netanyahoo's mental illness and his succombing to its

aftermath....May the God-dess bring Thor's Hammer down on All of themselves.

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Berkana's avatar

and here a calm rain

almost all October

lots of water washing everything

great

I wish that

water move more and more every October from now on

still water under the river

don’t serve for fruit

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Dian Parker's avatar

Tender. Lovely.

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JosephD's avatar

Thank you!:)))

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