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Skelter Helter
by Chris Sorrenti
what a summer it isnt
what a winter it wasnt
just the same old hurricane to me
and the feeling that i am
is like nitro glycerin
in the frying pan
but youll never know
how to cook me
inside or out of
in front of behind
backwards and forwards
im spinning all the time
dont get me wrong though
i am an overload
a registered trade mark
for something Im still looking for
out of or inside
behind or in front
forwards and backwards
im rotating all the time
dont get me wrong though
i am an undertow
and even though you already know
spinning is one word
dizzy is another
and far from your enemy
think me a messenger
in the sea of velocity
dont worry how you got here
dont ask me where we’re going
all i know is what i read in some book
it says that the Father
is really our Mother
what a winter it isnt
what a summer it wasnt
just the same old hurricane to me
earth to sky
sea to sea
the house in my room
in the province of my city
sitting on the bed
where youll never catch me sleeping
cause there’s a valley of darkness there
it’s got me all shook up
though don’t get me wrong
nervous is one word
wreck is another
im just a big kid
on a skelter helter
up the down to go down the up
inside and out of
backwards and forwards
twirling by myself
in a room full of speakers
an imitation paul mccartney
playing lead guitar
for a crowd of three people
or maybe it’s only one
im not sure
i got lost in the counting
© 1977
1,790 hits as of March 2024
08/31/2005 Author's Note: The reversal of words in the title and elsewhere was intentional. :o)
Posted on 09/01/2005
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Maureen Glaude on 09/01/05 at 12:10 PM yes, the reversal (of title words, etc.) works perfectly for the theme. The message kind of reflects us all on different days in our lives, powerfully at that. Well done. I got up at 5 am yesterday, remembering last year's tail end of the hurricane, in my basement, and though we were fortunate this time, I had gone to bed praying hard for all the victims and losses in New Orleans, so devastating. I know this is about more than the hurricanes, but its timing of posting hits on a prevalent disastrous subject. |
| Posted by Quentin S Clingerman on 09/02/05 at 11:12 AM The copyright date underscores the universality and timelessness or timeliness of the poem any time. |
| Posted by Bruce W Niedt on 09/24/05 at 03:04 AM Ah, the poetry of our youth! I love this - the feelings of confusion so playfully conveyed. It may have come out of turmoil, but it's a fun read, with clever juxtapositions of opposites and oxymorons. If you want to read an early "mind-blower" poem of mine, check out "The Decline and Fall of Dwontown Babylon in my "Young and Early Works" folder.... d:-) |
| Posted by Marjorie Anne Reagan on 09/27/05 at 04:30 AM Chris, this timely posting touched me to the core.
Uncertainty and confusion and the repeating of words or reversing them like a cyclone this poem hit me.
and Chris in a very powerful way
"You are Like a Hurricane"
We need you here no one does it like you do.
McCartney would love this too I am sure. |
| Posted by Joe Cramer on 03/15/06 at 07:52 PM Well done... I enjoyed the Spoonerism!!! |
| Posted by James Blaylock on 04/25/11 at 07:48 PM Wow, this is really awesome! And by the date I'm thinking you must've been writing wondrous works back in the day! It's wicked cool that you've kept that fire nicely burning, too. |
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