A public space a working space one that earns its keep
herds of cow and deer
hard clods of earth hide beneath the grass turning ankles
elsewhere
soft clogging soil
bog-traps feet.
A man approaches walking several dogs.
One dog disappears
into the undergrowth
smells something I can't smell
hears something I can't hear
and doubtless now sees something I can't see
The man's a long leash-length from me
calls
gets no response
Different landscapes
his and mine on one hand and the dogs
Their landscapes telescoped with ours.
We are in need of something
a technology
an inspiration
a moment of pure genius
that will extend the landscape's scope
unroll
the whole
in one exposure
never seen before
see nature's whole-frame collage
how
a million mini-landscapes go to make
the picture in the frame:
fragments of cloth
the bits and bobs
the photographs
and cuttings cut from lives
(not ours).
Reappearing from a clump of seeding bracken
something limp and bloodied hanging from its jaws
too far away for me to see rat rabbit
what it is
the dog appears
to have re-entered
our known landscape.
Hardly!
Landscape is defined not by the sensed
but by the sensing
not by surroundings
but by our neural architecture
If rat or rabbit happened to have been
last of its kind
it would have been a landscape lost for ever.
Tomorrow landscapes - his and ours - will show a change.
The dog's will still be sound
ours will have shrunk again
parts replaced or simply lost.
In every frame there are as many landscapes
as creatures living there.
If we can but pull out the scope to see it in its full extent.
Look through the scope...
who knows what might be seen?
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Wednesday, 6 July 2011
A Walk in the Park
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10 comments:
Nicely done, sir.
I particularly liked Landscape is defined ...by our neural architecture
The physical architecture of this poem is rewarding. I like the flow and I also like what it says. So true, all seen through our own eyes.
Who knows indeed. If we could have the eyes to see the whole picture, the entwining of all, including us.
Good piece. I agree with Leatherdykeuk: those are definitely the key lines in the poem.
I do think we all see the landscape in a different way Dave - that is what makes it so interesting.
Brilliant!
ThePeSla
Yes.There are infinite landscapes. I totally agree.
How marvellously clear it was this for Blake who looked for the same territories you are visiting with this poem when he said: "if the doors of perception were opened..."
A walk through the infinite landscape with our eyes enhanced by technology :-).
I enjoyed your dog walking view of the world and some ...
Leatherdykeuk
Thanks, much appreciate the info'.
Tabor
Interesting and useful to know. Many thanks.
TechnoBabe
I'd just finished this when I picked up a newspaper and read of the latest "discoveries" re dark material and dark energy. It was saying that all we can detect with our senses and our instruments accounts for less than 5% of what is around us.
Jim
Again, that's interesting to hear. I didn't quite see it that way when I wrote the poem, but I'm beginning to. Thanks for the thought.
The Weaver of Grass
Yes, I fully agree - and how different must it look to other creatures with different equipment!
ThePeSla
A warm welcome to you, and many thanks for leaving a comment.
Tommaso
Absolutely. And the doors that are neer fully open are in any case only partial doors.
Windsmoke
Thanks, yes - but only slightly enhanced.
Isabel
Thanks Isabel - if only we could talk to the dog!
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