why is order is such a preferred order,
so important is equilibrium, harmony essential
and balance almost inevitable?
a trough has to follow every crest,
the worst has to play
merry-go-round with the best?
children have to turn to old men,
life to death and death to life
one traverses again and again.
bubbles and ripples emerge together,
as do corresponding
zeniths and their nadirs
smiles the tears cancel out,
every debit has a credit
so they tell without a doubt.
instances of forced gulping down,
sure are matched by ones
of vomiting on one's own.
two sides of the same coin you say
two opposite poles
but why, if ask I may.
what purpose might it solve,
if round and round around itself
does the round revolve?
if the good is just
as good or as evil
as the evil be must.
every thing has a thing opposite
or every opposite
has an opposite thing.
Usually I find the idea of balance a reassuring concept, something solid and affirmative, but here it feels controlling and powerful. I am hugely unsettled by this poem, like a mouse trying to climb the sides of a glass box or a moth that can't stop burning its wings on the parafin lamp. It is chilling. C
ReplyDeleteThe concept of 'Balance' makes things predictable in a way- you know that evil shall follow good and vice-versa, but I guess there is another aspect- does one follow the other in equal measure. Balance somewhere ignores the contradictions in relativity. The theme of your poem is deep and nicely framed in verses.
ReplyDelete