Selection Mixtape of Taliesin — The Tower
Since we will be doing a more in depth look at the parts of The Mixtape of Taliesin we will also do some selections of poems, in my opinion about Agent 18s work The Tower, a ‘Tarot’ poem in the suit of clubs is the first really great poem that is also accessible to a large number of readers. Here it is.
THE TOWER
There is only one plan in the seed
& endless permutations -
From the Onion of the Crocus
A sheath loosens;
Well-tempered,
& green blades lengthen.
At the root of it all there always lies
A mountain stream, Ophelia’s hair
In spreading vines along the depth
But even the most startling edifice
Ever built, cannot efface
Its own eventual ruin
As the whining ghost will turn
Within your proudest living glance
Weeds twist thru the Tomb’s grasp
While Rime scours at the Gatetower
& rust enfolds the Gate….
There is no dominion but of thought
Making the fever dream of power
A flag of gauze to wave about
& frighten Children — the solid club
Bursts at the Dandelion’s breath
Weasels blunt a moss-worn wall
& ceremonial armor curls
To seem the Locust’s carapace
As our age decays its moon-face
Lenses obscure the clear eye
Seeing from a lessened vantage
A league of vague & formless mist
But even the most evanescent vision
Gainsays self if given time
As in each plan there quickens
A seed of its reversal
So Christ is nailed by his cloven hooves
Wearing on the broad horne of his brow
The symbol of a laurel crown
Note that the poem in The Mixtape of Taliesin has significantly different formatting.
The quoted poem was written by IG Agent 18
Rest of Article Text was written by IG Agent 13.
Graphics responsibility of IG Agent 27.
