29 Comments
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Bliss Grey's avatar

both beautiful and troubling

I value all emotions, You have managed to bring both to the surface . The beauty disarms the fear, and I won't let that go. ...I hope you do a reflection on this one

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Brian Funke's avatar

You know it! Emotions are a beautiful and troubling thing…

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Always Already's avatar

Holy smokes! I want a voice memo function to celebrate this poem! A lilting recitation drawing us deeper in to…. Fantastic sound and color. Thank you.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks, very kind feedback! I’m glad it was a sensory experience for you!

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Always Already's avatar

You’re welcome.

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Jiling Lin, LAc's avatar

You encapsulated how I feel in the ocean so gorgeously. Thank you.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Excellent! Thank you Jiling!

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Ann Collins's avatar

Hundreds of Jupiters

replenish the sea

Achingly lovely, Brian. Cinematic. We are the drowning ones, letting peace pour in.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

Absolutely my favourite combination of words here. Stunning.

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Brian Funke's avatar

You found two of my favorite lines🙂

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Neil Barker's avatar

Really nice poem, Brian. I especially like these two lines:

"You know how to breath here,

underwater all becomes clear"

At first reading, I think of this as being underwater, all things become clear: hold your breath! After a second and third reading and thinking about it, the idea of being underwater can have so many different meanings and interpretations. Knowing how to breathe in each of those interpretations is most important! Thanks for sharing.

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Brian Funke's avatar

I like your thought about breathing in many situations. So true. Thanks for checking it out!

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Rebecca Cook's avatar

YES YES YES. I WILL become water as soon as possible.

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Jonathan Potter's avatar

Powerful and beautiful. My 20yo daughter had a harrowing deep sea scuba experience a couple of months ago that this helps me process.

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Brian Funke's avatar

That’s scary. I’m glad this piece is helpful, and I’m happy she is ok!

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Jonathan Potter's avatar

I sent this to her -- I think it might help her process it, too. Yes, it was an enormous relief that she got through it okay. And yet still terrifying.

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Nathan Slake's avatar

I find this really beautiful and also terrifying. I have a healthy respect for the sea. It is a majestic thing and I have been lucky enough to scuba dive in the tropics and see incredible undersea vistas, but the notion of drowning is probably my biggest fear.

I think I can interpret this in multiple ways, but the first thoughts here, especially those closing lines, bring forth my fear of drowning and sinking deep down.

"hundreds of Jupiters

replenish the sea"

I'm going to straight up say this is my favourite line of yours that I've ever read. :D

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Brian Funke's avatar

Beauty and fear run deep in this piece. A sinking into one’s inner life that holds immense vistas and the potential to upend all we hold dear…

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Dominique_Jahn's avatar

Beautiful poem and artwork

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just mud by Ron's avatar

You're having too much fun, Brian! In a whole different world--I like it!

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you sir! Let’s all have more fun all around. 💫

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just mud by Ron's avatar

yes indeed!

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Mike Speriosu's avatar

Love it. Thank you.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thanks Mike!

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Leon Brown, Jr.'s avatar

Damn, that's nice! What a beautiful, evocative poem.......

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you Leon, I’m glad you stopped by to read!

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Leon Brown, Jr.'s avatar

Me too! You're an amazing poet.

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David Donoghue's avatar

I find anything about being below the sea or water to be uncomfortable.. submarine movies, stuck under the ice, deep sea diving.. you name it I struggle with it.. :D

I was particularly struck with how early in the poem the "Jupiters" rose to the surface, it was like the pin on the grenade had been popped immediately and we were already running out of time.. it had an incredible effect on me as I read and I started looking for the ending to see how much longer.

Very well done.

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Brian Funke's avatar

Thank you David. I really appreciate your reflection on this!

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