Terra incognita

Terra incognita

(to a young lady on her 20 birthday)

There is this unknown fire burning
Somewhere deep into my soul

Why you, I ask

It will never lead to anywhere
And I don't care

Why you, continent of innocence, terra incognita
Land of infinite future and discreet tremors
No river explored, no map traced
No
Only this world of elasticity, of spring water
This small and charming world where you
ignore thunder and darkness
Where you consider only the sea and the open sky

You know nothing, as it should be
You show nothing because you have been told nothing
You know only fragments
What you guessed
While extending your hand, your smile
You speak a language you ignore
A language you are only beginning to imagine

You said
What exactly did you say?

I does not matter, words are too many
Words fail words attempt
Words pale as you observe a new world
Of confusing emotions

It is the silence I cherish
I explode in cliches and they are so beautiful
I know so well oh so well that these forest paths lead nowhere
But you see such is the insanity of old age
Such is old age lack of wisdom
Old age

Old new I am loosing track of myself
Once again oh the glory of your smile
It is our secret it is our life

Stolen from the general misery of the land
Indeed
We steal time we steal darkness


September 1998