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

Good question!
Is it better to "lay it out there" and risk the chance of beheading,
or to say it with ambiguity so you can deny it's interpretation and protect yourself?
My distorted survival instinct leads me to the latter. :-)

Thanks MarkK and dancr6,

Secrecy verses openness is clearly a difficult dilemma to work oneself through with a maze of complications caused by either choice. I used to think of secrecy as a form of dishonesty on my part which only increased a shame based self-theology. I’ve grown more comfortable with at times doing one and at another time doing the other – both are legitimate choices. I don’t view secrecy as necessary being in “bondage” though it probably is in most cases especially when forced from the outside in. Too bad it is forced – even here – upon brothers whose desire is to be free to express their needs, hurts and growth.

"To everything there is a season"

A time to be eloquent and honest and a time to be ambiguous..... but still honest.

I agree earlybird, there is a time for both and I too, feel perfectly virtuous doing both as the situation deems appropriate. They ARE legitimate choices. It's only bondage if there is no way out. You can always take the confrontational approach with the willingness to pay the consequences, whether self imposed or externally applied.

looking at it as you are stating MarkK, I agree it is still bondage. It may be protecting you at a time when you need protection but it still a self imposed bondage.

People pretty much know what they are going to get from each other on this board and from whom they are going to get it from unless a newcomer and even in some instances considering the forum they venture into must know what they are getting THEMSELVES INTO .
The same in life one must ask the question why knowing what you are going to get when you open a particular thread from a particular person does the fascination overcome to the point it trumps all self proclaimed common sense to the point of giving in and viewing something you know you will perceive as forceful ?.
Is is not you who is forcing it on yourself this is perplexing to me considering all of these "secrete but not so secrete poems"

I could tell you exactly why but that would take all the "mystery" out of it