That which cannot be named
must be named.
The thought can only be touched and held
with words.
Can only be moved around, explored, turned around,
with words.
But then
it explores me, and
turns me around,
holds me in its grip
with words.
The words are its soldiers,
there has been a revolution.
Captive in my own palace,
I want my kingdom back.
I want to name
that which cannot be named.
Blocked
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Antcliff
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Hi Zo,
Doesn't line 7 ("but then") begin to explain that if the "it" (whatever it may be) is named "it" comes to "hold you in its grip"? If so, how do you get "your kingdom back" (end) by naming it? I thought it was the naming that created the problem?
Fun enigma poem. Enjoyed it..though as yet unsure of underlying logic.
best wishes, welcome to board.
Seth
Doesn't line 7 ("but then") begin to explain that if the "it" (whatever it may be) is named "it" comes to "hold you in its grip"? If so, how do you get "your kingdom back" (end) by naming it? I thought it was the naming that created the problem?
Fun enigma poem. Enjoyed it..though as yet unsure of underlying logic.
best wishes, welcome to board.
Seth
We fray into the future, rarely wrought
Save in the tapestries of afterthought.
Richard Wilbur
Save in the tapestries of afterthought.
Richard Wilbur
I thought this line was more saying that "it" had managed to "name" the narrator, hence the hold that "it" gains.Doesn't line 7 ("but then") begin to explain that if the "it" (whatever it may be) is named "it" comes to "hold you in its grip"?
A writer's block poem?
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Antcliff
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Yeh, that is the other reading. But I did think it worth mentioning to Zorro (hello again...sorry to be talking across!) that "but then" could be read (quite naturally) as stating a consequence of the process introduced. Hence "unsure".
Cheers,
Seth
Cheers,
Seth
We fray into the future, rarely wrought
Save in the tapestries of afterthought.
Richard Wilbur
Save in the tapestries of afterthought.
Richard Wilbur
Thank you Seth and Tim
This isn't about writer's block. It's more to do with a life-block. It was meant to be enigmatic, but part of what it's about is the common experience of having dangerous realities which cannot be put into words, while experiencing the necessity of doing so. The realities and their associated words can be so dangerous that when we do open them up, they can escape control. Historically, being able to name something was a way of controlling it.
Dave
This isn't about writer's block. It's more to do with a life-block. It was meant to be enigmatic, but part of what it's about is the common experience of having dangerous realities which cannot be put into words, while experiencing the necessity of doing so. The realities and their associated words can be so dangerous that when we do open them up, they can escape control. Historically, being able to name something was a way of controlling it.
Dave
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twoleftfeet
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Hi, Zorro
The openining reminds me of
The Tao which can be expressed in words is not the eternal Tao
- so I think there is a problem with starting a poem with a seemingly quasi-mystical, self-contradicting statement
("that which cannot be named must be named")
- when (it seems to me) you really mean something like:
"that which we fear to name.. "
- and I would never have guessed that had I not read your explanation.
Geoff
The openining reminds me of
The Tao which can be expressed in words is not the eternal Tao
- so I think there is a problem with starting a poem with a seemingly quasi-mystical, self-contradicting statement
("that which cannot be named must be named")
- when (it seems to me) you really mean something like:
"that which we fear to name.. "
- and I would never have guessed that had I not read your explanation.
Geoff
Instead of just sitting on the fence - why not stand in the middle of the road?
Probably need to re-title to help interpretation. I agree that some 'fear'/'anxiety' element may open up the intention, though I think its logical tone does drive the poem. Maybe some spacing for pause?Zorro wrote:That which cannot be named
must be named.
The thought can only be touched and held
with words.
Can only be moved around, explored, turned around,
with words.
But then
it explores me, and
turns me around,
holds me in its grip
with words.
The words are its soldiers,
there has been a revolution.
Captive in my own palace,
I want my kingdom back.
I want to name
that which cannot be named.
mac
Thank you Time, Seth, Geoff and Mac
Yes that there are apparent logical disconnects in the poem. 'Blocked' implies that the dangerous realities lurking in the writer's mind (me, oh dear) are still suppressed. The reference to a revolution implies that they are out and are rampaging around, taking over. Can both be happening at the same time? Surely not. But then, maybe.......? Isn't that part of the fascination of the Jekyll and Hyde story? Not that my lurking stuff is anything like as dangerous as what is depicted there, I hasten to add.
Yes that there are apparent logical disconnects in the poem. 'Blocked' implies that the dangerous realities lurking in the writer's mind (me, oh dear) are still suppressed. The reference to a revolution implies that they are out and are rampaging around, taking over. Can both be happening at the same time? Surely not. But then, maybe.......? Isn't that part of the fascination of the Jekyll and Hyde story? Not that my lurking stuff is anything like as dangerous as what is depicted there, I hasten to add.
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Cryptic Cadence
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When I first saw the thread title, I thought maybe it was a poem about being blocked on Facebook, reading it through several times without reading the comments, made it clear it wasn't. 
I didn't quite see the "disconnections" as some others have, perhaps I wasn't perceiving it in the same level. Since the underlying meaning of "blocked" was vague, it was hard to say. Impressive little poem, perhaps with a few more words it could be even stronger. I particularly like how you've left it subtle, without any overwhelming negative emotions stewed with it, like some might be inclined to do with these kinds of poems.
Can you explain what you meant by this a little more?
I didn't quite see the "disconnections" as some others have, perhaps I wasn't perceiving it in the same level. Since the underlying meaning of "blocked" was vague, it was hard to say. Impressive little poem, perhaps with a few more words it could be even stronger. I particularly like how you've left it subtle, without any overwhelming negative emotions stewed with it, like some might be inclined to do with these kinds of poems.
Can you explain what you meant by this a little more?
...the common experience of having dangerous realities which cannot be put into words, while experiencing the necessity of doing so...
The umentionable dangerous realities. Maybe best to give an example. What comes to mind is Leonard Cohen's Stranger Song
Ah you hate to see another tired man
lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker
For someone whose life is dedicated to and centred around a game, it is a dangerous reality that the desire to play it has departed. When admitted, it will disrupt the individual's whole life. It may be repressed. What does that do to a person?
Ah you hate to see another tired man
lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker
For someone whose life is dedicated to and centred around a game, it is a dangerous reality that the desire to play it has departed. When admitted, it will disrupt the individual's whole life. It may be repressed. What does that do to a person?