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Jonathan Potter's avatar

Such a powerful, fundamental metaphor. Nicely done.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you sir!

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Nathan Slake's avatar

"And how can you take brave steps to transform if your positive spin keeps you submissive to what you know you should leave?" -- so very true, Brian.

Thank you for this reflection, Brian. Really loved hearing your thought process and events that led to this emerging.

"You know how to breathe here" -- rereading this, I very much took this to mean that one intrinsically knows how to adapt and cope in a situation when you're figuratively out of your depth. The adaptation and transformation becomes central here.

Great stuff.

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Brian Funke's avatar

I love that interpretation. I do think that’s what I was trying to articulate about that deeper place…we know, but we have to learn how to listen. Thanks Nathan!

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Ann Collins's avatar

“This poem is not written on the surface, it is written to pull you to personal depths where a different understanding and knowledge live.”

Brian, you’re always so gracious to ask for your readers’ impressions of your words. For me, this poem moves like the ocean—with an unseen power. In the final echoing lines I hear waves lapping the shore of consciousness, rocking this boat of the mind. Suggestive of the acceptance of death as perhaps something beautiful—and asking what will it be like?

Maybe like drowning in Beauty…

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Brian Funke's avatar

I love pairing the final stanza to waves…perfect, thanks for pointing that out!

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Claudia Befu's avatar

Feeling dead while being alive is worse than fearing death while transforming.

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Bliss Grey's avatar

Thank you. I feel like we have had this discussion before.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Perhaps there is a book starting to take shape…

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Bliss Grey's avatar

oh. That is how it happens. to me in very short books. Like a few pages short. When I am able to sleep well, sometimes that happens in our sleep.

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