| Steven Walker Art and Poetry |
Together Forever
ANGER! He’s my friend. He visits me every day.
He always comes to aid me when I’m feeling blue.
When I’m happy, he shows up too. Sometimes he
comes around so often that it makes me mad.
MADNESS! We live together. People can’t tell us
apart. He never pays his half of the rent though. It’s
been good to have the company since Love moved
out so I keep him around.
DARKNESS! He comes around a lot too. He almost
always brings a party with him but usually I’m the
only one that shows up. When Darkness and I get
together, we find Intoxication. Anger follows him
around like a shadow.
The four of us hang out together nearly all the time
now, and Madness never leaves. It’s starting to get
kind of crowded in here so we try not to let
Loneliness visit very often.
Friendship always travels in disguise these days. He’
s become a fugitive from the law. I’m not sure that I
would even recognize him anymore.
Lust still shows up a lot, but she’s not much fun
unless she’s with Copulation. When they both show
up together, the rest of the guys usually leave us
alone.
Still, Madness never leaves.
ANGER! He’s my friend. He visits me every day.
He always comes to aid me when I’m feeling blue.
When I’m happy, he shows up too. Sometimes he
comes around so often that it makes me mad.
MADNESS! We live together. People can’t tell us
apart. He never pays his half of the rent though. It’s
been good to have the company since Love moved
out so I keep him around.
DARKNESS! He comes around a lot too. He almost
always brings a party with him but usually I’m the
only one that shows up. When Darkness and I get
together, we find Intoxication. Anger follows him
around like a shadow.
The four of us hang out together nearly all the time
now, and Madness never leaves. It’s starting to get
kind of crowded in here so we try not to let
Loneliness visit very often.
Friendship always travels in disguise these days. He’
s become a fugitive from the law. I’m not sure that I
would even recognize him anymore.
Lust still shows up a lot, but she’s not much fun
unless she’s with Copulation. When they both show
up together, the rest of the guys usually leave us
alone.
Still, Madness never leaves.
Steven Walker
| (Fleeting Moments): The power of infatuation is often many times stronger than that of love when it comes to influencing people to fight, commit acts of adultery and stupidity, and give up everything they have or can hope to gain. The irony is that if that same infatuation is given an opportunity to grow to become love, it can be so easily tossed aside for new infatuation once again. The secret is to remain infatuated with the one you love and to work daily to keep them infatuated with you. |
Under construction
Steven Walker
| 3 X 6 I am poise. Son, I am old. When I was born, I was Eve. ill and still am even more so. Follow me to the end? Hear your master? I grow strong here now. Among you tempted mortals make, an easy crew to gather. Velvet sheets and silken lather softens Strong hearts easy. Pray. Follow me to the end. Hear your master. Your cup boiledeth over. Lending, Searing pain. Sew that. The flames surrounding are Licking comfort in comparison to what Do I owe this greatest pleasure? Follow me to the end! Hear your master! |
(3 X 6): Unique for its multiple interpretative meanings. The title can be used to
provide the number of stanzas and the number of lines in each stanza. By
multiplying the numbers it can represent the total number of lines in the poem. It
can be interpreted to represent three sixes (666, the number of the beast—the
mark of Satan), and linked to interior lines such as, “When I was born, I was Eve,”
(3) as well as phrases and words such as “tempted mortals” (8) and “Pray,” (11),
which all can be allusions to the Christian faith.
Similar to the poetic form of the ballade, each stanza ends with a repeating
line. The use of different punctuation in the last repeating line of each stanza
shows a gradual pull toward temptation. The question mark acts as an invitation.
The period shows that a decision has been made, and the exclamation point
reveals that choice is no longer an option—there is no turning back at this point
even if regret exists because the master has taken control of the slave.
The most unique feature of the poem is the author’s use of homonyms and his
choice of where to break each line in order to give the poem various possible
readings. The first reading, as it is literally written, may be interpreted as the
thoughts of a person who struggles to come to grips with his own mortality as he
accepts the fact that he has arrived at the end of his life.
Cont.
provide the number of stanzas and the number of lines in each stanza. By
multiplying the numbers it can represent the total number of lines in the poem. It
can be interpreted to represent three sixes (666, the number of the beast—the
mark of Satan), and linked to interior lines such as, “When I was born, I was Eve,”
(3) as well as phrases and words such as “tempted mortals” (8) and “Pray,” (11),
which all can be allusions to the Christian faith.
Similar to the poetic form of the ballade, each stanza ends with a repeating
line. The use of different punctuation in the last repeating line of each stanza
shows a gradual pull toward temptation. The question mark acts as an invitation.
The period shows that a decision has been made, and the exclamation point
reveals that choice is no longer an option—there is no turning back at this point
even if regret exists because the master has taken control of the slave.
The most unique feature of the poem is the author’s use of homonyms and his
choice of where to break each line in order to give the poem various possible
readings. The first reading, as it is literally written, may be interpreted as the
thoughts of a person who struggles to come to grips with his own mortality as he
accepts the fact that he has arrived at the end of his life.
Cont.
I am poise.
Son, I am old.
(The narrator tries to maintain a sense of dignity, but he admits that age has diminished his ability to hold on to his own sense of
self respect because of his physical limitations and his growing dependence on others to take care of him.)
When I was born, I was Eve.
(He explains that he was once youthful, robust, and a force to be recognized with a world of opportunities and adventures waiting
to be experienced. He was young and life was long. There was plenty of time to accomplish what he needed to do, so he spent his
time indulging in what he wanted to do.)
ill and still
am even more so.
(He is now inactive and viewed as the old man that people feel obligated to engage with instead of actually enjoying or looking
forward to his company. He admits his weaknesses and states that there is even more indignity in his life than he will share with
anyone other than those who take care of him.)
Follow me to the end? Hear your master?
(He asks his son to put up with him despite his diminished state and to stay with him until the end of his life.)
I grow strong here now.
Among you tempted mortals make,
an easy crew to gather.
Velvet sheets and silken lather softens
Strong hearts easy. Pray.
Follow me to the end. Hear your master.
(It is easier for the narrator to ask for his son’s support than to expect it from anyone else because feelings of family obligation
and guilt can be exploited. Also, there is no one else to ask. The narrator tells his son that he gains strength and comfort from his
company. He acknowledges that the comfort his son brings him has softened his past controlling demeanor and that he is now
willing to openly express his emotions, admit his weaknesses and divulge his intimate (and possibly embarrassing) thoughts. He
fears his inevitable demise and resorts to spirituality to gain comfort. At the same time, he no longer asks for his son’s support and
company. He simply states that it is something that is expected and will be received.
Your cup boiledeth over. Lending,
The narrator explains that he gains strength from his son’s company because he is able to momentarily borrow the youth he once
knew…the youth of his son with a cup that spills over with plenty of time and opportunities still ahead.
Searing pain. Sew that.
The flames surrounding are
Licking comfort in comparison to what
Do I owe this greatest pleasure?
Follow me to the end! Hear your master!
The narrator’s normal daily life is filled with pain that he yearns to extinguish. That discomfort cuts a hole in his soul from which
he can receive no relief. Because he does gain some momentary comfort from his son’s visits, he now demands that the youth
fulfill his family obligation to stay with him at the end of his life. He also believes that his actions throughout his life will soon be
evaluated by a higher entity. Will he be rewarded with licking comfort for his deeds or sentenced to even more pain as he is
consumed by surrounding flames for all eternity? The poem ends, and so does the narrator’s life, as he is filled with panic and fear
regarding the possibility of entering an afterlife. He grabs his son’s hand for support and screams, “Follow me to the end!” and
then he lies still and breathless.
A second interpretation reads like this:
I am poison. When I was born, I was evil and still am even more so. Follow me to the end? Hear your master? I grow strong here
now among you. Tempted mortals make an easy crew to gather. Velvet sheets and silken lather softens strong hearts. Easy
prey. Follow me to the end. Hear your master. Your cup boiledeth over lending searing pain so that the flames surrounding are
licking comfort in comparison. To what do I owe this greatest pleasure? Follow me to the end! Hear your master!
Son, I am old.
(The narrator tries to maintain a sense of dignity, but he admits that age has diminished his ability to hold on to his own sense of
self respect because of his physical limitations and his growing dependence on others to take care of him.)
When I was born, I was Eve.
(He explains that he was once youthful, robust, and a force to be recognized with a world of opportunities and adventures waiting
to be experienced. He was young and life was long. There was plenty of time to accomplish what he needed to do, so he spent his
time indulging in what he wanted to do.)
ill and still
am even more so.
(He is now inactive and viewed as the old man that people feel obligated to engage with instead of actually enjoying or looking
forward to his company. He admits his weaknesses and states that there is even more indignity in his life than he will share with
anyone other than those who take care of him.)
Follow me to the end? Hear your master?
(He asks his son to put up with him despite his diminished state and to stay with him until the end of his life.)
I grow strong here now.
Among you tempted mortals make,
an easy crew to gather.
Velvet sheets and silken lather softens
Strong hearts easy. Pray.
Follow me to the end. Hear your master.
(It is easier for the narrator to ask for his son’s support than to expect it from anyone else because feelings of family obligation
and guilt can be exploited. Also, there is no one else to ask. The narrator tells his son that he gains strength and comfort from his
company. He acknowledges that the comfort his son brings him has softened his past controlling demeanor and that he is now
willing to openly express his emotions, admit his weaknesses and divulge his intimate (and possibly embarrassing) thoughts. He
fears his inevitable demise and resorts to spirituality to gain comfort. At the same time, he no longer asks for his son’s support and
company. He simply states that it is something that is expected and will be received.
Your cup boiledeth over. Lending,
The narrator explains that he gains strength from his son’s company because he is able to momentarily borrow the youth he once
knew…the youth of his son with a cup that spills over with plenty of time and opportunities still ahead.
Searing pain. Sew that.
The flames surrounding are
Licking comfort in comparison to what
Do I owe this greatest pleasure?
Follow me to the end! Hear your master!
The narrator’s normal daily life is filled with pain that he yearns to extinguish. That discomfort cuts a hole in his soul from which
he can receive no relief. Because he does gain some momentary comfort from his son’s visits, he now demands that the youth
fulfill his family obligation to stay with him at the end of his life. He also believes that his actions throughout his life will soon be
evaluated by a higher entity. Will he be rewarded with licking comfort for his deeds or sentenced to even more pain as he is
consumed by surrounding flames for all eternity? The poem ends, and so does the narrator’s life, as he is filled with panic and fear
regarding the possibility of entering an afterlife. He grabs his son’s hand for support and screams, “Follow me to the end!” and
then he lies still and breathless.
A second interpretation reads like this:
I am poison. When I was born, I was evil and still am even more so. Follow me to the end? Hear your master? I grow strong here
now among you. Tempted mortals make an easy crew to gather. Velvet sheets and silken lather softens strong hearts. Easy
prey. Follow me to the end. Hear your master. Your cup boiledeth over lending searing pain so that the flames surrounding are
licking comfort in comparison. To what do I owe this greatest pleasure? Follow me to the end! Hear your master!