Below is an interpretation of a poem (The Innerman) by this Columnist.
Ferociously, the soul craves
Intercourse with life
Man’s quest to actualise his heart desires is limitless. In the pursuit of such desires (positive or negative), he acts like a beast (in thought or action) tearing out all obstacles lined on the part of his adventure (a daily occurrence).
Riotously it flames like fuel fire
Snarling at me
At the height of this urge or desire, the outerman (you that is seen eating, playing, driving, teaching or typing etc) becomes overwhelmed by the state of the mind. And you are helpless and restless.
I ducked in silence
From the fury of its fire
You retire to a solitary corner (bedroom, bush path, garden, office etc) to harmonise your heart desires, urge and thoughts. This act of refining is the only possible cushion available that gives the outerman the chance to select a constructive or destructive option from among the alternatives that runs through his mind towards satisfaction (positive or negative).
While shifting encumbrances
From the rhythmic beauty
Of my inscape that insulates
The outerman from the
Ravages of the soul
In this exercise, success and failure simply reside on your palm. Each is at par with the other, with the potential of being chosen. This is where quality thoughts matter. The quality in thought is built upon past experiences to a large extent and other vital influences like religion, education and environment etc. But man possesses the capacity to discard the past for new experiences. Experience is not the best teacher; it is only a preferred counsellor.
The mind contemplates
Shifting the grain from the chaff
Crowding it, I – the custodian of
The mind-ride on emotions
Weighing the consequences of your possible choice which influences one’s ‘present and future’ roles one is expected or would want to play in the society. Environment is a mobile influence with delicate potency on man. This is because humans have become highly electro-bio-mechanical creatures; environmental factor cannot always be relied upon for constructive choices. More so, due to the increasing sophistication of environment, there is a deceptive profile attached to it these days such that dwellers do not easily access the natural elements that are traditional features of their habitat to give them that surety of permanence or concreteness of effective choice especially in cities. Social media has diluted man, and what you have today is artificial boys and girls that could hardly be pinned to a particular environment. However, the choice must be made on daily bases, in fact, every second. Even after a choice, the outerman is still left hanging in the balance awaiting the confirmation of the validity of his choice leading to a phase-contemplative test. The outerman goes on:
Pasturage of delicate expeditions’
As time moves away, the pressure to confirm the viability of choice mounts, a choice becomes imminent. The outerman then becomes convinced that, the re-occurring choice is the way and he settles for it:
And the heart is lured
Into a configured matrimony
Tick after tick
The heart ruminates
As the urge heightens
The thirst burns-fuses
Into a gossamer;
It palpitates, sighs
Then judges itself
In a contemplative test of will
A part is chosen
A part is chosen from the chain of activities of the innerman. Thereafter, the urge to accomplish it becomes even higher and fierce in the pursuance of one’s desires – positive or negative. At this point, it becomes difficult to dissuade the man to retreat.
During selection from among the options, it is clear to man, the consequences of his actions on others. This is where love comes in, love for others as much as self. This is where aesthetic of being retune decisions and this is where peace or war can be initiated.
In heaven is judgement
On earth is judgement
In innerman is judgement
But the consequences of life after death is a much more dreadful imaginative experience on earth than the earthly experience of man, for heaven works with the intent which is a finer arbiter in contemplation. Perhaps, this is why a wrong choice ought to be punished and good choice rewarded.
A counsel to intents
Of innerman, a sentinel
To the outerman as he threads
In the comfort of his trade
This is how man is led into right or left.
