things that cannot be compared

after sei shōnagon​

solar flares on the surface of skin | how a candle flame dances with shadow
sails of a brigantine | wings of a moth | snake skin that is shedding me
                               we can all go up in flames as the wind catches just right | wrong


moonlight pools on water dreaming| sunlight dapples feet here-and-now

​smooth enamel of the bath | sediment at the bottom of the ocean
                                          either can be a throne, either can swallow a woman whole


feel of brush strokes on canvas |scratch of a pen on paper |
                                                                                 fingers trace where flesh curves bone


                                                                                  i don’t think we're supposed to know
                                                        if the taste of tears varies according to their mood


everything will be ok, as told by the touch of a hand or a look in the eyes,
                                                                                                     i will take either right now

letting go and giving up are not to be compared
                                                                                                            nor with walking away
​
grief cannot be greater or less than the sum of each human experience
finding out the truth and looking for lies are different
                                                                   yet both result in a life before and a life after


                                                      i think only time can stop us from comparing things

by emma blas

My eternal gratitude to poet Amy Kay, who introduced me to Sei Shōnagon​'s pillow book, and the incredibly contemporary 1,000 year old list poems and poetic prose within it. Sei Shōnagon was a lady serving the Empress Teishi at court in Japan, around the year 1000 and she documented daily life in her 'journal'. She lists beautiful and petty, witty and intelligent observations from courtly life, against titles such as:

'Rare things'
'Things that make the heart lurch with anxiety'
'Things that create the appearance of deep emotion'
'Things that make your heart beat fast'
'Elegant things'
'Things that lose by being painted'

It's remarkable to me how relevant and relatable these 1000 year old lists are and the titles are poetically inspiring to gather observations against or to stimulate other titles. Read more about this book on Goodreads.