David Selzer is a writer of poetry, prose fiction, screenplays and stage plays. He embraces digital platforms to share his work of more than fifty years… READ MORE


  • THE INVERTED EUCALYPTUS

    In the unlit room, the glass-topped table

    reflects the crepuscular, upside-down

    image of the tree. In this small picture,

    the Moon is descending through its branches.

     

    Through the window, a hazy full Moon,

    trailing south easterly clouds, is rising,

    with the shimmering Evening Star, above

    the eucalyptus, across a darkening sky.

     

    How fast we move through the universe and yet

    how still the glass on the table and the panes

    in the window, the tree and its image,

    the ubiquitous eucalyptus, appear:

     

    an accidental, antipodean

    masterwork of reality and dream.


    3 responses to “THE INVERTED EUCALYPTUS”


    1. John Chapman Avatar
      John Chapman

      And yet, recently seen on TV, all matter is in a state of flux, everything is moving due to electrons being in constant random motion so nothing, apparently, is ever “still” although the movement may be so slow that we do not perceive it.
      How perceptions have been massively changed, even in my lifetime, and continue to be in a seemingly accelerating fashion as science rushes us on to infinity.

    2. Tim Ellis Avatar

      Science shows us that our subjective perceptions of the universe tell us very little about reality. Is that what this poem is saying? All we see is a misleading reflection of the truth? Interesting use of the word antipodean.

    3. David Selzer Avatar

      Yes, it is about the ancient dichotomy between being and seeming. In many ways, the latter is as true – that is, as significant, for us – as the former.

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