If you could find the figure-
the other artist to draw you,
out of context- objectify-
see in a biased, a personal light,
or, in the light of a tree
or of a city lamp-
only not- complete and ready formed.
If that other figure, other artist-
stepping out of molded light- could strip,
bare utterly the body and,
make pliant the unbendable
sheerly by a force of vision.
Do all of this to see one in,
the tangle of a sheet or stretch of water,
or in the quickness of a glance,
so that the personal (formed
of mores, corrections, words,
and faulted attitudes) could leap out of focus,
escape onto another plane- exist.
at last with some autonomy
this kind of gift-
more potent than a resurrection
or resuscitation-
is what makes of a man
a hero, savior; all of this,
This which turns a flame into a purging fire
whose charring
can be seen only from the corner of the eye,
obliquely-
or in the seconds flicker of a lens.
by destruction only can we
save another-
love is secondary-
Author notes
I'd always prefer a deep and scalding criticism to short slick placation
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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Thanks for the read. Just to clarify for later readers, since both the comments so far have shown that, not unusually for me, my mode of expression was confusing.
I suppose because this poem is dealing with a theory of mine, it is personal in that respect, although, it is not personal as in having to do with an experiences I've had or anything of that sort.
What I was actually trying to exspress here was the thought that the greatest thing one person could do for another was to "see" them differently, to be a mirror for them, showing the most essential personality. In other words, allow that person to see what they are, stripped of all the assigned and aquired roles society gives, to take them out of that confusion and allow them to reevaluate themselves.
I got the idea, in fact by some time I spent in a collection of Harry Callahan's photographs of his wife Eleanor, thus the title. This was what I got from the body of work as a whole.
I don't know if this is really any clearer than the poem but if there are any oppinions on how I could make my point a little less arcane they'd be appriciated. -
My only criticism would be that this is so personal in thought and vision it makes it difficult in itself to decipher but that in itself seems to be in essence what it is trying to acheive. A very interesting concept and very well written
. Rewarded 4
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