Friday, 4 December 2009

Blue and White - Istigkeit

Here I am now, submerged in blue: a wall of colour and nothing else. Here, time is defunct, because now and here is nowhere, and I am little more than abstract thoughts. There’s a kind of purity about it, a wholeness; smooth white peace like a softmint, with the sting in the mouth too. There’s a sound like the hush of clouds seething between the bones and a floating sensation, like falling asleep underwater.
Beneath the heavens, where opaline skies bite down on treetops, I lie open. I am free. Out of the veil of myopia everything seems crystalline and bright; pure as tears.
I have come here to empty myself; to erase emotion and relieve the weight of exhaustion from my limbs. The endless expanse of blue drains me, washes over my eyelids, and I am infinitely small yet part of everything, and full of so many fractured voices and half-formed words, I find it hard to breathe.
I am learning peace. Locked in my own pearl carapace, I sleep, dreaming achromatic dreams of bird cages, piano keys and sulphuric clouds dragging the lake. And I am rolled flat beneath the waves; a cut-paper ghost, the mouth shutting on nothing over and over. Ice laces the knots of my spine, and I can feel my lungs flooding with silence.
And this is what it is to be whole. Istigkeit: the essence of life, pressed like a flower.
I am beneath it all, beyond it all, as I lie still; watching the clouds passing, passing, over my head.

* * *

Just something short a wrote in creative writing club recently. The theme was colours, so I, naturally, chose blue and white.
Although it wasn't originally inspired by the song, I felt that it fit - and, as I love Babes in Toyland and this is an amazing song, I thought I ought to share it. Even though that meant spending an evening making a video as there wasn't one on the internet (shameful!)...
Enjoy!

4 comments:

  1. Beautiful as usual, Jen. You have such a fluid and atmospheric style of writing. I love reading your stuff.

    So many Plath-isms in here haha! This whole thing is saturated with Plath, it's great. I love her, I'm totally addicted to her at the moment!!!! Sudden and unexpected adoration of Plath! Especially 'Tulips.' :D

    Great stuff dearest!

    xxx

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  2. Thank you so much, J! :D

    Haha, as there always is with my writing. I think I'm turning into her!

    'Tulips' is my favourite poem EVER. I was so glad that we were able to do it in class the other day!

    xxx

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  3. Oh my God, me too!!! *pathetic SNAP scream*

    The other day when Mrs Hill said we were doing a hospital-related poem, I had my fingers crossed and I was muttering 'Tulips, Tulips' under my breath, and then when it was 'Tulips' I got very excited!!!! It is literally my favourite favourite poem!

    My favourite verse is the one beginning 'I didn't want any flowers...'

    Genius!

    xx

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  4. Haha, win! It is the best, I love it so! Flip, Jess and I did a group project on it and spent the whole lesson discussing it in detail. We didn't even reach the end! It was great fun. :D

    'Elm' is another one of my favourites too, but I don't think we're doing that one...

    'Tis indeed genius! :D

    xxx

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