BARDIC REPLY
Our art is not about sanity.
You, who have learned neither name nor edge,
Who insist there is one word, one view, one meaning.
You can know nothing of this glory, this defeat, this wonder.
Whose life must be pleasant above all things,
despite death and all its monsters, despite the shadows, the whispers.
Trained neither to remember nor forget, muddling through.
Oh the mirrors are sharp and they are fine, but they lie.
That is never your face that looks out -just a trick we
Have become accustomed to, knowing no better.
Staring into dark pools hypnotised, dissassociated, becoming
Numb, drained of decisions, drained of moments,
the buzzing of summer flies, the click of electrical circuits.
—
simonhlilly 
Sharp mirrors… very powerful line. Thank you.
Reblogged this on O at the Edges and commented:
Simon H. Lilly writes of “this glory, this defeat, this wonder,” which is of course about art and its bewildering meanings…or not.
Thanks for the reblog!
You’re very welcome, Simon.
Reblogged this on AreMyFeetOffTheGround and commented:
Simon H. Lilly writes of “this glory, this defeat, this wonder,” which is of course about art and its bewildering meanings…or not.
(Robert Okaji’s description of this verse by Simon Lilly)
Taa for the reblog!
You’re welcome!
The sound structure of this poem is so masterfully constructed, I can be no less than envious for such mastery. The content, as well, is so rich. One of – if not the – best poem I’ve read on the WordPress platform.
Thank you, Simon. Thank you for this experience.
Well, I am not sure it is that good, but thanks you for your appreciation, Johnny!
Drained of moments
That sticks
They?
You?
We?
Your voice plays tricks
The last three lines refer back to ‘we’, humans. The ‘they’ is about the mirrors, the subject of that sentence.
Ah
“they”
“sometimes you have to worry about “they””.
They could be anything.
They are anything we make “they”, ah mirrors, even mirrors, can be “they”.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Lol