Why can’t they speak a language ordinary people can understand?
Some mysteries will not submit to ordinary words.
Too subtle or too dense, they yield their truths
only in a lexicon too cumbersome
for the day to day, where riddles
are resolved with acts, and the work of living
refuses to wait for perfect answers.
Yes, it is hard to learn this language,
but worth the struggle to master multi-
syllabic horrors. With practice
you can sort the useful from the vain,
smell out bullshit amidst blooms.
What he wants to know, but cannot fathom,
is why the need for special knowledge
should dawn so late, now, when his head
is clogged with doubt, years of unused information
blocking the sun. When he was young
everything seemed possible; now
it’s all he can do to squint and scratch
some meaning from each day’s regret.
A new language? These days, he can barely grunt
a greeting. “Yes” and “no”
and “I don’t know anymore”
are all the words he has.
His mouth is full of dirt;
his world is dark and dumb.
I pity him, but cannot bless him
with speech. The work of learning
must be his. Too late, perhaps, for fluency,
there’s hope he still might learn to perceive
the beauty of others’ eloquence; that is,
if his own silence does not drown him first.
Jeff Klooger‘s poetry has been published in his native Australia and internationally. Recently his work has appeared in Magma(UK), Island, fourW, Kipple, Sketch (all Australia), qarrtsiluni (US), Red Fez (US) and YB (Mexico). His other interests are music and philosophy. He has a PhD in social theory/philosophy from La Trobe University, Australia, and his book on the ideas of the Greek-French philosopher Cornelius Castoriadis was published in 2009.
Interesting Jeffrey. Seeking news of Mr Murray. Worried.
Contact me through my facebook page Jillian, and I can give you information on Mr Murray.
Dear Jeff,
Good morrow, sir, I hope this finds you well. If you have the time, I would greatly appreciate the chance to write to you about your extrordinary poem ‘A Father’s Son’. I am a poet who recently found your poem in ‘magma poetry’ and was instantly gripped with your style, honesty and talent. If you would appreciate more feedback then please contact me at kdavisfanclub@aol.com
If not, no worries, I want to thank you for shocking me with a literal treasure. Kind regards and best wishes, Kieran Davis.
I was going to say, your new fan but that sounds too much like a stalker, i’m just a guy that appreciates people with a gift for words.