Echoes and Chaos

Summary

The website content presents a prose poem titled "capitulation" by J.D. Harms, accompanied by a prompt for writing about surrender, and includes a list of contributors.

Abstract

The provided text from the website is centered around the theme of surrender, as explored in a prose poem titled "capitulation" by J.D. Harms. Published on 26 May 2021, the poem delves into the complexities of letting go, even when it is not a desired choice. It uses vivid imagery to convey the struggle and acceptance of surrendering to forces beyond one's control, such as the chaos of life. The poem is complemented by a photograph of Jr Korpa, which captures the essence of the poem's introspective and somewhat somber tone. Additionally, the content includes a writing prompt by Lennie Varvarides that challenges readers to consider the concept of surrender in their own lives, beyond the obvious and simplistic examples, encouraging a deeper reflection on the moments when giving up is inevitable. The prompt references Corey Hart's songs "Sunglasses at Night" and "Never Surrender," using them as a metaphor for the often unseen aspects of surrender in a capitalist society. The page also lists a number of contributors, suggesting a community of writers engaging with the prompt and the theme.

26 May 2021 Wednesday Prose Poem: capitulation

I remembered killing love — even if I didn’t try to do that — staking out nice tall boundaries, looking out from a thing I was sure was a tower but was really a potato cellar — like the one grandpa had in his garden shed — sneak like under a large dirty circle rug…

Briefly filtered former living — all stuck inside, echoing the cleaner sounds, the expletive-free version, some ditty about the robins going full bore on the next five million nests around my house — straining to hear something, the coffee has started dripping, stopped, and now I’m sure I’m alone

Can’t believe in all this chaos — what, because it’s not right in front of your fucking nose — and the grip still slips, is lying down, is by the creek without the footwear needed for them slippery rocks —

Well, doubt whips frailer passages into shape — gets the costumes washed and flung about over the fence — dog sniffs by the property line, bleach to sand the shame out, sense of disarray resumes, fills your face like dandelions erupting in the wind — and you wonder, what will grow next?

Prompt:

My child absolutely adores Corey Hart’s, “Sunglasses at Night”…which might seem like a total non sequitir until I remind you (or you already saw where this was going) that one of Hart’s other well-played songs is call “Never Surrender”. Certainly, in capitalist societies, such a slogan seems to make a lot of sense. After all, running away isn’t quite the same thing as throwing up your arms…is it? Whatever the ins and outs of precarious reasoning, occasionally, whether we like it or not, we have to give up. Some mountains just won’t get scaled, not for lack of trying. Write me a prose poem piece about something you might surrender to (and, yes, once again, it can’t just be sex; I dig it, too, but let’s expand!!).