29 Nov A cup of surrealism

Setting Sail to the Surreal

Surrealism was an artistic and literary movement that originated in the early 20th century.

It aimed to challenge and distort perceptions of reality by colliding rationalism with a dream world. In essence, place the mind atop a stormy sea, on a course beyond conventional thought.

This turbulent path invited its audience towards a swirling void that encircled two extremes: dream and reality. Needless to say, it wasn’t easy. And with no chart to voyage with, the uninitiated were left floating helplessly.

Surrealism was radical, blunt, unsympathetic, meant for the chattering tea house crowd. The who’s who that would stoke their own braziers to burn, black metal kettles to hiss and churn, steamy spouts puffing, pillows of milky white flooding, stirring tired minds dreaming, deeply through the evening. As they slept they would find the notion of ‘no-mind’, is the same as ‘no-tea’, nourishing completely.

But what kind of no-thing is this?
Does it ask me to dismiss,
how the correctness
of my mind is amiss?
It musters mention
the flustering question;
How to know apart
From knowing?

This asking
incites exploring,
tasking the mind
with winds a blowing,
Like ocean air,
billowy, blustery
A sailboat tossed
easterly, westerly
Rough seas swelling
an tea-soaked destiny…

Just then,
With a thrust,
A whole gale did gust
Overfilling and tearing my sail, I trust.
Do I dare then,
ascend these stairs and,
mend what needs mending,
And venture out?

Yes,
but nay,
If I make my way
I can hear what they’ll say,


“Seekers that set sail,

always return before dark,

and with empty hands no less.”



Yes, dear maiden,

it’s true that they do,
but notice not their hands,

but how they stand
and sip their tea
curiously,

in riveting rapture,

each day thereafter.

~CJ~