< like a fish in an aquarium >

[rayheinrich]

< like a fish in an aquarium >

the meaning of a word
is not inside it

neither
is the meaning of this poem

you're reading it
right now
from the outside

i'd like to think
i wrote it
from in here

but i was
where you are right now

so this poem is
(though i wish it weren't)
like a fish in an aquarium

- - -

[Keith]

< like a fish in an aquarium >

the meaning of a word
is not inside it

neither
is the meaning of this poem

you're reading it
right now
from the outside

i'd like to think
i wrote it
from in here

but i was
where you are right now

so this poem is
(though i wish it weren't)
like a fish in an aquarium

- - -

A poetic Klein bottle and you gave us a map, quirky and enjoyable just when you think you have the heart of the matter you find yourself outside looking in.

[Leanne]

We start with white space -- or unformed chaos, where all is possible. We draw/type on it with these little black lines that cauterise certain threads of meaning, making it impossible for them to become anything more than what is contained within the lines. The more lines, the less chaos, the fewer possibilities. Words don't create meaning, they reject it. We follow the lines, because we can't read the space.

[rayheinrich]

We start with white space -- or unformed chaos, where all is possible. We draw/type on it with these little black lines that cauterise certain threads of meaning, making it impossible for them to become anything more than what is contained within the lines. The more lines, the less chaos, the fewer possibilities. Words don't create meaning, they reject it. We follow the lines, because we can't read the space.

You can actually do it two ways. Start with everything (like above) and throw stuff out;
or start with nothing and put stuff in.

Method 1: Start with everything:
Write the word "apple" and everything else in the universe gets kicked out leaving just "apple".

Method 2: Start with nothing:
Write the word "apple" and it gets added to nothing so now there's "apple".

Now lets say I want an "orange" as well.

Method 1: Put everything back in and then write "apple" and "orange" or cheat and switch
to method 2 and just write "orange".

Method 2: Write "orange" right after the "apple" you've already written.

Either way you end up with the same "apple" and "orange". And, either way, there is no way
to tell from examining the final product which method was used.

Ray

P.S. The lines/space thing is a false dichotomy as either one necessarily defines the other.


P.P.S. "When it gets right down to it: There's nothing as metaphorical as a literal interpretation."
- Robert Johnson