As someone who walks that tightrope constantly, I especially appreciated your knowledge and agreement on the subject.

Ron

I loved the mythical references starting by the Odyssey to the Gods of light and fertility

I too very much like how you connected between that journey of Odyssey and the journey of life as it adds an extra dimention to the description

I however couldn't find much logic beween the beginning of the poem

 we are at the bridge
 in a balancing act     (especially here)

and its end
a very unstable condition
 

I think it can easily be fixed as you may either loose the second line or   say "trying to balance" 

as this goes well with the rest of your piece where you said

attempting to harmonize
instinctual wholeness
immediacy
primal joy

and
self-controlled
sober
scientific rationale 

Muchly enjoyed the authinticity of this piece dear Judy .

Thanks for sharing.

the string heart rings
and tinfoil wishs
wrapped round

what was the chord miss struck
that forbade me from being brought
down by that truck

I turned somehow to a word
a thought a look
that needed an ending
to the mending

alone in the bath
while the walls wept
and the fan cried its
nocturnal monotone
the rain singing down
the vent in quiet when
candles lept to the
dark corners

where this spirit my tempest
heart flies..

to her
my polar opposite

nice to have stability
the quiet monotone
chromatic love

and yet how vivid
cutting deep rich
and pain awed the
wieild of a make
that is not for this
world

tis better to have loved
and lost then never have
loved at all

how true

I can never look back
and say..

what was I thinking..

I always think of Love
when odessey comes to mind
female male sides
twins competing
settling

or the inner egos struggling
doctor j and mister h

never happens no ones in control
for long

build monuments and burn down
a civilization for the ghost
societies to ponder and relearn

What makes an impression on me in this poem is the word choice. It starts with the title.

Odyssey rightfully evokes a sense of journey. As a fan of Greek mythology, this stirs me within and increases my expectation.

Your using the greek gods at opposite ends of the bridge pleases me, but I have a problem with Apollo appearing opposite Dionysus. It seems more proper that Athena would have been better suited in Apollo's place. She seems more rational and scientific.

I'm not sure if you were trying to draw on Apollo's associattion with poetry, but his presence there doesn't bring out the contrast well enough for me.

But you carry on your theme well through the second and third stanzas. Contrasting "primitive apes" against "civilized human beings" makes it seem as if you're judging the Dionysus side harshly, but the tone becomes more balanced in the third stanza.

You may notice that I didn't mention any of the devices we discussed in the WS. I get confused when everything begins to look like a metaphor.

To conclude, I didn't find much of a journey in this poem. I was stuck on a bridge, trying to chose which way to go.

I find this poem both very charming, yet "lacking" in quite a few areas; those may be due to my expectations. Other than that, it works well with me.

I gaze therefore I see....
"primitive Ape" I like this here
The chimpanzees are brutal in defending territory
and taking mates...like humans if one makes
it to adulthood one is doing well indeed
Jane Goodhall documented this as did Dianne Fossey
before poachers moved in..

The last of these beings are being removed
mans incessant pacing and timbre use
consuming the living canopy

In the psych wards I saw the newly recruited to the
fifties floors debriefed and crawling down the halls
locked in the bubble rooms or converted to zombies
with the tranqs of our modern era

In my travels I sat discussed and was near many
top level people of fields elaborate
worked in construction of modern monuments

but we as modern enlightened souls retain the
primitive brain and the reptilian brain
and the enlightened brain

We can pick up volcanic glass tools still
or scalpels and lasers

And the thousand and more years of tragedy
is here beyond our fingertips and memories

I read much on the Apes
Both women observant authors
and on the greeks in their times

we today multiply and hoard upon the
earth bringing our destruction in the form
of aid and control

we are the trojan horse
like missionaries of old with viruses
in their caring breath

we Live in a time where the earths
wealth is being devoured
as Poets what can we say

The greeks recorded volcanic eruptions
and died in the ensuing fallout
or were stabbed in land attacks
working out math issues

As poets would we give our lives
to Neitche or Fossey to help
educate

how can we here>

We have apes in a View Safarie
its fun.. They tear off trim and wiper blades
or puncture tires the Lions when bored

African Wild Safari here its called

I once almost got stranded in Humber
a rough part of Toronto
The bus driver made sure I made ti to
the Four Hundred North Cloverleaf
and made it over the fence... I thanked
him for my life!!!!
which he saved..

I love this poem Judy Anne for making
us think from the classic start
where the Latin love came from
in England from Roman occupation
to the occupatin of North America
and beyond

I never read Neitche

they My Intelligencia friends wanted me
too

if I can read dianne f
then I can read him

thank You for this thought recovery and
discovery!!

Mr Esker

Pretty much describes where the world is today. But that word "bridge"............maybe fulcrum or tipping point would be more accurate. now I'll sit back and let you lecture me why I'm wrong lmao.............stan