True North

Dislocate, uproot, relocate, distribute
Plant this line in your head and keep repeating,
Our divine right as economic migrants, that heinous vow we took,
Once mortgaged to the rock, we forsook for home,
Is now supplanted in cardboard boxes, a Pink Floyd flurry,
Distribution of reason, unhoused, disowned
In surreal distribution across the lawn, partway through the shed,
Up the hallway, into our beds, and thence on in to our crowding heads.

Dislocate, uproot, and relocate, distribute

Where does this bearing take us? Now, a common theme,
Where is our true north, our promised land, our dream?

In the act of uprooting, to satisfy the needs of our vocation,
Shareholders, expediency, location, location, location,
But: if the proximity of life means, dereliction of direction,
Where are we left? What compass brought us here?
And, which sextant map and madcap plan, in vain,
Might lead us out again?

Dislocate, uproot, and relocate, distribute

About This Poem

Last Few Words: A strange, small poem about upheaval and moving. More of a invective regarding the whole upheaval/process than a poem, but free verse expression, all the same. Lesson, don't keep moving, and if you do, accept the consequences! Good to be back.

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: Tasmania, AUS

Favorite Poets: Glen Richards, Thomas Hardy, Phillip Larkin, Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Carol Ann Duffy , Ani DiFranco, Seamus Heaney, Emily Dickinson, T. S. Elliot

Comments

Geezer

7 years 9 months ago

I don't...

often comment or critique your work, because frankly, I usually don't get much of it. However, this one comes through loud and clear. Maybe, because I hate to move! ~ Gee.
.

chevyvent

7 years 9 months ago

You Write Like Me

Visual Descriptives in this piece with Floyd encounter.
Of course I could be off course but this is a captivating piece.
Devine right as economic migrants what a push.
You hit a lot of points with this piece keep them coming now.

Eumolpus

7 years 9 months ago

real estate

In the end, if you can afford to buy in, you will make a lot of money in real estate...the market of real property beats stocks, gold and everything else. How to grow old with enough money to hang and do poetry? Keep on buyin' and sellin' and in the end you'll find true north...at least in terms of some financial security. I blew my big chance when I didn't buy on Park Avenue in the 70's...I couldn't risk it. $50,000 for an apartment! Now they sell for $ 20 million.
But whatever I did in real estate saved my ass in my old age.

Dislocate, uproot, and relocate, distribute go for it!!

vandiemenspeak

7 years 9 months ago

Thanks guys..

It's more about what happens to us as people too, and the total disorientation, and stress it puts people under. I'm halfway through, a very messy move, and it was more of a mind dump, less of a poem. But thanks for your insightful comments.

Cheers.

Chris.