if you don’t use it, you lose it… the dugongs and the manatees, the dolphins and the killer whales, all must stay in the ocean — there’s no walking on their legs again, there’s no hunting on the land… breathing the air shows they were dry fauna once, but no more…
I'm at a phase where I'm beginning "a radically different trajectory" leaving my life-long discipline (music) behind. Last night, I went to a friend's concert and I felt very distant from it all. I felt some struggle with my "new iteration."
I just listened to a report about the noise in the ocean and how it is impacting the whales. They communicate with sound and how it echoes and rebounds off the floor of the ocean. It was so interesting. There is a group who is trying to lower noise in the ocean. I loved this piece and especially the line about leaving the outdated behind and living a new life. :)
The last paragraph is prophetic to my life. I didn’t read this literally so much as metaphorically. I cannot and will not return to my past, and those who still reside there are perhaps the poorer for it. They remain mired in the primordial goo of the past and yay for them. As for me, I have risen to a higher reality that perfectly suits my personality.
This is now one of my favorite poems...love how you describe the feeling of giving up so much (entire limbs and ways of breathing), to gain an entirely new world that was previously out of reach. And often I think there's this middle space of gradual changes where we can't predict where we're going - we don't know if we're becoming dolphins, whales, or leviathans - the labels don't exist until we get there and another recognizes us. What do dolphins call themselves, now?
Franco, you never cease to impress…simply magnificent!
You make the argument in the 1st half of the poem, then the rebuttal. Wow!
These verses have resonance with me: “you gamble, you take a chance, and it works out once — but you can’t be sure you’ll be so lucky once again…”
Back in 1985, I was the president of a labor union at 32 years old…I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But I took a gamble on taking a sympathy action to support a 6,000-member union, Service Workers Local 627, to prevent a strike. The stars all lined up for me and the strike was averted and I was a hero to 6,000 people and honored at their victory banquet by their attorney, Anthony Sgambati, who said, “If any of you don’t believe one man can make a difference, you know otherwise now.”
I have tried to go back to the well for the last 38 years and there was no encore. I’ve come close, but no cigar. “you can’t go back, they won’t take you back…” I agree.
The lesson is to not let the chance pass you by…in fact, the “lucky” part is getting the chance…
This evokes “burning the boats” mentality. I wonder what your sea creatures see when the boats burn from the surface above
This one got me.
I'm at a phase where I'm beginning "a radically different trajectory" leaving my life-long discipline (music) behind. Last night, I went to a friend's concert and I felt very distant from it all. I felt some struggle with my "new iteration."
Thank you for putting this into words.
"I have gained new organs / to see my reality" gave me full body chills!
“Daydreaming as means of productivity” I LOVE that!
I just listened to a report about the noise in the ocean and how it is impacting the whales. They communicate with sound and how it echoes and rebounds off the floor of the ocean. It was so interesting. There is a group who is trying to lower noise in the ocean. I loved this piece and especially the line about leaving the outdated behind and living a new life. :)
The last paragraph is prophetic to my life. I didn’t read this literally so much as metaphorically. I cannot and will not return to my past, and those who still reside there are perhaps the poorer for it. They remain mired in the primordial goo of the past and yay for them. As for me, I have risen to a higher reality that perfectly suits my personality.
I like this phrase: I choose to glide! Very affirming, and also soothing (just lean into the wind, let the universe carry you along)! 🔥
This is now one of my favorite poems...love how you describe the feeling of giving up so much (entire limbs and ways of breathing), to gain an entirely new world that was previously out of reach. And often I think there's this middle space of gradual changes where we can't predict where we're going - we don't know if we're becoming dolphins, whales, or leviathans - the labels don't exist until we get there and another recognizes us. What do dolphins call themselves, now?
I love the bit about daydreaming. Well written Franco. And stay strong—your choices might be difficult, but your passion will guide you.
flipper would be proud
Dolphins, whales, such smart creatures. It's no wonder we relate to them so intimately. lovee
I really loved reading this tonight. Your voice is as magnetizing as ever.
This is wonderful work. As a diver, it is very evocative. And now I miss the sea.
Being able to adapt, even as difficult as it can be, is so damn liberating.
Franco, you never cease to impress…simply magnificent!
You make the argument in the 1st half of the poem, then the rebuttal. Wow!
These verses have resonance with me: “you gamble, you take a chance, and it works out once — but you can’t be sure you’ll be so lucky once again…”
Back in 1985, I was the president of a labor union at 32 years old…I didn’t know what I didn’t know. But I took a gamble on taking a sympathy action to support a 6,000-member union, Service Workers Local 627, to prevent a strike. The stars all lined up for me and the strike was averted and I was a hero to 6,000 people and honored at their victory banquet by their attorney, Anthony Sgambati, who said, “If any of you don’t believe one man can make a difference, you know otherwise now.”
I have tried to go back to the well for the last 38 years and there was no encore. I’ve come close, but no cigar. “you can’t go back, they won’t take you back…” I agree.
The lesson is to not let the chance pass you by…in fact, the “lucky” part is getting the chance…
On fire Franco 🔥 Love this 💚