THE PROBLEM IS THE BRICK WALL...

Here is a poem I have been working on for a month or so. The majority of the poem came tumbling out one morning, as a lot of my poetry does. However, having got the bare bones of the poem, it took a great deal longer to shape the poem. In this process I took it to meetings of Juncture 25, and the Secret Poets, two poetry groups I belong to. I mention this to emphasise that as well as revision a poem needs to be read loud and commented on by other people who you respect. Thanks guys.

Many Worlds Theory

Sometimes we will grip beyond reason

any idea which hints at salvation;

left field, widdershins, it chimes.

The compass points at the wall.

On the other side there is grace,

alternate choices, better endings.

The problem is the brick wall,

how do you pass through?

Taunted by the possible,

tortured by the Many Worlds Theory,

oh, how it hints and denies.

You are here, now - all the wrong turns,

so you watch that film again and again,

then climb the barrier, pockets loaded with stones.

You jump, sink and do not come up in this world again.

The person in the poem refuses to believe that this is how reality is structured and wishes to believe the Many Worlds Theory, parallel worlds to you and me. The person wants to be in a different reality where the choices they made were more sustainable.

Below is an earlier incarnation (about draft 10) of the poem. Interestingly it was when I read it to the Secret Poets that the lines about the Copenhagen Agreement sounded clunky.

Sometimes we will grip and hold beyond reason

any idea which hints at salvation;

left field, widdershins, it chimes.

The compass points at the wall,

but it is where you want to live.

On the other side

there is grace, a different life

of alternate choices, better endings.

The problem is the brick wall,

how do you pass through?

Taunted by the possible,

you rip up the Copenhagen Interpretation,

are tortured by the Many Worlds Theory,

oh, how it hints and denies.

You are here, now - all the wrong turns,

so you watch that film again and again,

then climb the barrier, pockets loaded with stones,

we know the reference only too well.

You jump, sink and do not come up in this world again.

The Copenhagen Interpretation refers to Quantum Physics. It means, as I understand it, that when you observe a particle you reduce the number of possible values to one random value, if you look away and look again, then the value will have again randomly changed. You can get a more coherent explanation here.

I’d really like to know what you make of this.

Here is a video I've found of Elis Regina and Tom Jobim singing Aguas de Marco, I think it's from the recording of the Elis & Tom album. It's such a delight to hear and see them singing together. 

Have a good week.