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Shamans
are said to die when they enter the spirit world through trance.
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It begins with a smoky haze,
the sound of your own feet stamping
and tongue clicks reverberant
in your mind drawing you entranced
to the sandstone cave of your ancestors.
ǀKágge̥n rises as a shadow
thrown against the wall of your mind,
an indelible figure of hooked claws
remorselessly ripping to shreds
barriers of sanity to be let in.
With glassine eyes, he turns
to observe your fear and hungrily,
consumes the twisted dreams
churned in blood and ash of this reality:
Man is the Mantis incarnate.
This poem was inspired by the art of Quincy Washington, whose 'Blossom Hunter' mantis can be seen on Instagram @albanusdesign and can also be seen on my @skyloverpoetry page.
Okay I am going to have to come back to read the poem. I misread your caption as saying shaman's enter the spirit world through FRANCE. Ha! Maybe they ride the Metro. So now I am laughing too hard at my own idiocy to read the poem right now.
ReplyDeleteI have seen many cave drawings in my life being interested in such things. This poem does call them to mind - the fear, the myticism, the other world quality of the drawings. We are at our most primal when we step into the other world. This poem conveys that feeling.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Toni. It is a fascinating art, sole witness to early religious experience.
DeleteThis is exquisitely drawn, Kerry!💖 I love the artwork by Quincy and was intrigued by the background and details about the "Kaggen." I am put in the mind of the duality of human character which is perhaps mirrored by the Mantis who is a trickster god with the ability to shape-shift. Is it possible that he incarnates himself in man? Especially when faced with fear and doubt which in turn leads to troubled dreams. I also read that the Kaggen is a folk hero of the IXam people of Southern Africa 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you for your close reading and analysis of the origins of my poem. Indeed, there is much within the psychology of early man to mirror our present experiences.
DeleteSo cool to read more about "ǀKágge̥n". I love how you build the trance-like atmosphere through images that are vivid but a bit hazy — the inferences can be many as we become a part of this ritualistic journey through your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Anmol.. more than I hope for when writing.
DeleteThe pace of this poem builds up to a crescendo to great effect, Kerry, and the direct address made me feel as if I was stamping along with it. I love the thought of being drawn ‘to the sandstone cave of your ancestors’ and was completely surprised at the wordplay in ‘Man is the Mantis incarnate’.
ReplyDeleteAh.. so glad you picked up the wordplay, Kim. I wanted the finale to come as a surprise.
ReplyDeleteOh, I could feel the energy in this. I've just been working on my Twila series, and dipping ink into the spirit world. Reading your poem now is perfect timing. I needed a spirit guide.
ReplyDeleteThat last line comes at you like a ragged claw. There are so many cool things about it, but what keeps hooking me is the idea of a mantis consuming it's mate.
ReplyDelete