Gauguin was Unaware:
“The unplumb’d, salt,
estranging sea.”
“in isolation and virtual savagery” ~ Paul Gauguin
Yes! in the sea of life enisled,
With echoing straits between us thrown,
Dotting the shoreless watery wild,
We mortal millions live alone.
The islands feel the enclasping flow,
And then their endless bounds they know. ~ Matthew Arnold
We move in isolation, never mind
Stupidities of daydreams like romance
And friendship. Love is worse than blind.
It laughs at us, as if the fruits that glance
Away from Tantalus forever were
Ordained for all. It is as if our lives
Were wrapped in strips with frankincense and myrrh
By senseless gods who wield dissecting knives
Before we’re born. The loneliness is wide
Like canyons in blank space. Our songs are dumb
And edged by death. We are a bogus bride
And groom. Our sacrament is numb.
We flail about with faiths and other props
Deluding us. We think we’re more than slops.