The Inner Voice of Mark Birros: Excerpt From Epic Poem.

With that invisibilty of age I can fly my life like a kite ! Uninvited and unseen, albescent, grey, you know what I mean, ( not the first flush of youth or strong, the young forget that we were young, ) hold on to that, the string of that to grip the meaning of it as I grip the iron balustrade along the miles of esplanade ; think the century's wise men are ignored, each lamp a light, a sage for each lamp.... ... Drawn to the Sailor's Arms, her kegs the weight of years upon the legs, for whispers round an inglenook where galaxies are in the glass, to swap a tale, another round, a golden fleece, a crumpled map ! Or waft around for words, like smoke along the butt - ends from the tar, or vanish down into the draught if Alan Watts is at the bar.... ... Below, where gulls quarrel in kelp no harbour there need shelter me, no life - boat slip to cries for help need bring my spirit to the lee - I hear the past with all its murders, the wind wail through the rusting girders yet still am I, free to fly with you who lean against the railings, too !... ... The world may seem to come in bits - let nonduality begin ? Come celebrate your opposites for all depends on loss to win ! Tribal culture in your face - to win is everywhere you turn, if God is losing all the time then will we ever, ever learn ?... ... 'You'll win' he said, 'its in the bag', out on the point what can the mindless wind do but wave the flag? Missing the point forever signalling our nascent spirit. And the voice said 'raise your head when the night is cloudless and tell me who you are subject to, remember the truth of your own story as your eyes take in the glory'.... ... Full to be empty, empty to be full - do you hear the paradox, do you feel the pull ? I do not mean to be patronising, have I asked you too soon ? Do you see what I mean when you gaze at the moon, when the full moon, lifeless is full of light ?... ... I sit upon the lobster pots that decorate the harbour wall, if you come a little closer you can see me in the hall, if you do not hold the key- Mrs keepings locks the door, I'll be looking out to sea after eight but not before.... ... ...