Meandering prose, or: Sinking suspicion

Poetry Partners #11

‘Meandering prose’, by Jim- of ‘TheCommonAtheist’

Winding amidst the valleys
Of life's twists and turns—
Through eddies and pools
Often muddled clarity
Carves out sweet ramblings—

Jim-: https://jimoeba.wordpress.com/

A cleave poem by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

below the heavens,		winding amidst the valleys
our mortal experience is one		of life’s twists and turns—
of sloshing and thrashing		through eddies and pools
across oceans without even the slightest bearings and		often muddled clarity
that miraculously seems to suffice us, as it		carves out sweet ramblings—
somehow grants profound, existential appreciation		grounded in humanity’s naïve, inhibited imagination

How to read a cleave poem?

Simply:

Read the left hand poem as a first discrete poem.
Read the right hand poem as a second discrete poem.
Read the whole as a third integrated poem.

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

List of Poetry Partners

16 thoughts on “Meandering prose, or: Sinking suspicion”

Terveen Gill December 13, 202108:01 Reply

And we slosh and thrash on. Love those bittersweet ramblings. 🙂
1. ben Alexander December 13, 202108:11 Reply
  
  💗💟 Terveen 💟💗
paeansunplugged December 7, 202111:20 Reply

Terrific partnership, David. ❤️
1. ben Alexander December 7, 202111:23 Reply
  
  💙💜 Punam 💜💙
Duo Disseminators December 6, 202111:08 Reply

Wow. I believe this one was amazing as you intentionally used the same poem and carved out a cleave poem out of it! that must have taken a lot of time! it shows!
1. ben Alexander December 6, 202111:11 Reply
  
  You’re very sweet, Kunjal ❤
  
  Thank you,
  David
Jeff Flesch December 6, 202104:25 Reply

Awesome poetry, as always. I’m really enjoying those cleave poems, David. ❤️❤️
1. ben Alexander December 6, 202108:30 Reply
  
  💗 Jeff 💗
memadtwo December 6, 202101:23 Reply

Oh, I love the way you put these together! Excellent. (K)
1. ben Alexander December 6, 202108:27 Reply
  
  🥰 Kerfe 🥰
jim- December 5, 202121:11 Reply

Nice work there, buddy. Thanks for sharing. I really like the way you matched it up.
1. ben Alexander December 5, 202121:12 Reply
  
  ✨🙏✨ Jim ✨🙏✨ – thanks so much or sharing your poem!
  
  -David
Michele Lee December 5, 202120:35 Reply

Well done! These are delightful. Love the poetic dance! 💕
1. ben Alexander December 5, 202120:59 Reply
  
  🤗 Michele 🤗
Mike U. December 5, 202118:14 Reply

Both of these pieces individually are profound, and cumulatively are even more so, but the way you deftly merged Jim’s poem into yours shows some really fine poetic craftsmanship. This collaboration is not only enjoyable to read, it’s fun to look at, too. *tips cap at David and Jim* 🙂
1. ben Alexander December 5, 202120:33 Reply
  
  ❤ Thanks, Mike! ❤