Poetry Corner
by Lawrence Spiro
Man in the Mirror The intensity of Michael Jackson was obvious when he performed as lead singer with the Jackson Five. Aristotle states that “form follows essence.” Michael’s essence was to sing and dance pushing form to the limit. Talent and form are relational. Talent cannot be expressed without it. Form without talent is moot. In the natural spring of his youth he blossomed as the most beautiful bud of May. His spring was long covering the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. However, nature, as a symbolic design of the human condition moves on towards the wilting heat, breezes leaving, and cold winds. In the last poetry column I wrote of renewal. Spring and summer are correlated to material and physical renewal, fall and winter correlate to intellectual and spiritual renewal. Each season decreases in the renewal process until it passes to the next. In the temporal plane this movement continues in a cyclical manner. Our lives driven by the decision to obtain peace is dependent on how we handle material, physical, intellectual and spiritual renewal as we mature. Michael held fast to spring and beginnings of summer. He changed his appearance, yearning to stay in everlasting spring where his powers were at the peak of perfection. He sought peace in Neverland where he lived “Once upon a time.” Neverland became untouchable and he left. As spring moves towards summer, and summer towards fall, the renewal process is the effect of free will, an energy that covers conscience, subconscious and spiritual maturity. Maturity remained distant and under the roses for him. They belonged to the “Man in the Mirror,” but to the man they were constraints. He lit up the stage at the age of 5 with 32 concerts a week at the Apollo. He created magnificent videos, music, choreography and lyrics. At the age of 50, Michael set to light up the world as Michael Jackson in the “This is it!” tour; 52 concerts in Europe followed by additional concert coverage in the Americas. The abridged lyrics of “Man in the Mirror,’ (1987) written by Garret and Ballard supports the theme of this column. Each season is referenced except for spring; “winter …kids not enough to eat”, “a summer’s disregard…”, and “they follow …on the wind…” a classic motif of fall. Michael’s reflection is an illusion, placed in the looking glass to age for him. However, the man in the mirror does not reflect reality. He reels in spring. He does not see his true image as an aging man. He does not see the coming of the painful scandals or the physical pain of his final days as he complains of one side of his body being hot, the other cold. He does not sense the end of it all with insomnia and enduring pain only suppressible with strong sedation and anaesthetization. Man in the Mirror (Bad) 1987 montauket...sunset supreme a rainbow of colors,hues of every shade to be viewed,an experience of wonder seen often by the montauket,the best sunsets found around montauk embued!; the setting sun,oft in the lower horizon,a pageant sparkling on bay waters,reflected soul searching splender against wind driven salt air, apocolyptic life cycles within a day's time; crimson reds in threads,bright oranges in sight,burnt yellows afloat ever mellows, a sinking prestine ball of fury decends peacefully into the brine; at the montauket by the beach this time,a choppy overcast windy twilight,as waters wavery whiteheads whiplash onto the sandy shore; the howl of winds sweeping in cause breakers to shear into froth as rolling curls store it's watery core; out in deeper waters,a large white yacht is weaving windbound,sport fishermen attempting a harvest fish found,in fort pond bay,unleashed netting sweeps waters way to garnish game,in the main,thru light rain,not without some pain,a day's work in the plain,by the rounds of the pounds; further away,a small ocean tanker moving slowly, prods its hearty bounty along the coastline,wolfs it's whistle westward to embark a nearby port,it's cargo shipped,making it's rounds on the long island sound; back upon the bluff,with outside stairwell bound,a slanted downward grassy knoll to be found; behind me the bar at the montauket,a friendly noisy crowd around,simmers and saunters in good heartfelt fun; as dusk approaches,the good luck of a clearing in the sky,and there be the sun,crimson and golden hues a brownish yellow reflection upon the waters below; downward motions on the vast horizons,the large ball shrinking seemingly parting in such sweet sorrow,it's day done until the morrow floats anew in tow; i am not alone,co-mingling with others,each sharing a precious moment bear witness to the dance of the sun's demise,until the next sunrise,from our location; the sunset by the montauket is a mix of the real with the surreal,robust in a day's epoch,nocturnal night in sublime,it's full cycle of sunset in time....as the song suggests,time is on our side,the beauty of this experience is time rhymed!......so it goes/mb
If you have any comments or poems, email me at larryspiro@aol.com. Include permission to publish if you are so inclined. |
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