Ichthys

There is symbolism in
Every word written
Though often hidden
Judiciously within the subtleties
Of rhythm and rhyme
But for those who know me,
You might with a grin agree
That it’s humorously poetic
Yet tragically ridiculous
That poetry’s become my Ichthys

I love the poem, bro, but...what's an ichthys? Lol.

Your loving brother, as always,

Bobcat

Hello old friend it’s been a long time.

An Ichthys was the secret symbol (shaped like a fish) used by the early Christians to let others who shared their new found faith know that they were of the same belief without alerting their antagonists.

Yes, there is a certain irony in that. Although the early Christians aren't the only underground community who have had to use symbols to display their identity. Now, of course the Icthys is something you put on your car. My wife once bought one to put on her car, but with her driving, I told her that it's probably not a good idea since no one cares if you've got a fish in your car when someone's backing into you or stopping at a green light.

I hope you know that there are men here 9including myself) who are willing to learn the "secret code"

Thanks Crux, you better than most know the meanings of the encoded thoughts expressed in most of my current poems. I cherish your openness to the differences between us.

You are correct that there has always been a subset that have been repressed by a larger or more powerful, insecure group forcing them to develop secret handshakes, slogans, winks, nods or symbols it’s just a shame that this dehumanizing experience exists.

especially because it wasn't even our fault.

Crux, you are right the sexual assaults were not our fault but to lie silently allowing those who ply the power of the delete key suppressing others whose assaults are viewed as different and described by them as too controversial to bring to the public’s attention – that fault is shared by all.

Must say that I'm thinking these days about your "poetry" Earl. The thing is that some brothers said recently how they wanted to leave open discussions for couple of different reasons. Anyway some analogy with your history is similar; at least to my eyes.
And now I've been wondering is poetry or secrecy good escape at all?
If we all went to underground who will stay on first front?
Perspective offered to us without some hope and honest dialogue hurts me the most
There must be way to get back...

peroperic2009,

Your question is a fair one “….is secrecy good escape….” and I would imagine the answer is not an easy one to discover and may differ depending on circumstances and the individual persons involved. But this is poem is not really about secrecy as much it is about subtleties and how these nuances, if constant, can erode the surface of granite or even that of a hardened mind. The problem is there is a dishonesty in forced shrewdness and a great risk of catastrophic misunderstandings.

to me secrecy is not escape
it is self-induced bondage
perhaps "safer"
but still bondage