What lies beyond, beneath, around
the corner?
Show me a locked door: I’ll spend all day
searching for the key.
For heaven’s sake, never show me a border!
Don’t fence me in, not even
metaphorically –
if I have one incurable obsession it is
curiosity.
© Experimentsinfiction 2021, All Rights Reserved
Written for dVerse
Tonight, De is hosting Quadrille, where the watchword is ‘curiosity.’ The bar opens from 3pm EST: join us for more curious poetry!
The featured image, from Pixabay, is of a curious cat exploring the Colosseum. On a study visit to Rome many moons ago, our history professor was most amused that I could not stop myself from poking about in sewers and going through each and every door to find out what was on the other side. It was the same when I visited the Minoan sites on Crete: I was most upset that the ‘Queen’s apartments’ in Knossos were cordoned off, and I had to charm my way in. The security guard explained that ‘Only the king and the President normally get to see this…’ To which I thought, ‘what the hell do they know or care about Bronze Age prehistory?’
This reminds me of a favourite Heaney poem of mine, ‘Personal Helicon’ which begins:
‘As a child, they could not keep me from wells…’
and ends:
‘…I rhyme
To see myself, to set the darkness echoing.’
From the collection Death of a Naturalist (1966)
And now for some music:
Nice post..
Thank you!
You make wonderful poetry!
Thank you Darius!
A read somewhere that a writer has to be curious. I’m sure that cat could tell lots of great stories!
I reckon so 😸
I think cats do need curiosity to survive, unfortunately life is a dangerous thing… we all know how it will end… curiosity is probably a good thing.
Life would be very dull without it!
It is a good thing – to be curious about the world. It leads to many roads & journeys.
Good one Ingrid!
Thanks Grace!
Oh, I love this! Stay curious! 🙂
I love the almost-rhyme between “corner” and “border.”
Thanks De: I intend to!
Thank goodness curiosity never really killed the cat! As poets, we are curious about pretty much everything. Historians too. I love the choice of Heaney poem.
I think it probably did kill the cat a few times which is why they have 9 lives 😊
Nice poem.
Thank you 🙏
There are three things that make life worth living: loved ones, music, and curiosity. Nice essay and insight into your character.
Amen to that!
Curiosity and Creativity are kissing cousins to poets. I worked a cat into my poem as well.
There’s always space for one!
There’s something refreshingly down to earth and frank in so much of your poetry, Ingrid.
<3
David
David, that is a huge compliment and I thank you for it! ❤️
As I read your poem, I thought this is definitely your autobiography!! Then your back story at the end was a wonderful summary of exactly that. Well done… and don’t ever lose your curiosity!
Thank you Dwight, I hope I never will!
Nice work, Ingrid. Loved the locked door image (a real invitation, if ever one existed).
Always!
oh this is a great one for all of us Ingrid honoring the cat within❣️🤣👏🌷
Thanks Cindy 🐈⬛ 🐈🐈⬛
❣️💖🌷🐕🐕🐕
Great minds think alike, Ingrid! Exquisite!
Thanks Frank! I am curious to read yours…
Good on Ingrid. I love a curious black cat. I’ve had four of them. Now I have black dogs! ☺️
I have had one, but he was one of my favourites!
Oh, me too! I have an ample dose of curiosity!
Glad to hear it 😉
Thought of this song as soon as I saw your title. The version I grew up with was sung by the Sons of the Pioneers. I like this one better. :).
I think I know the version you mean but I didn’t know the name of the band! I do like this version too as it’s a bit cheeky!
The interactions make it much more fun.
if I have one incurable
obsession it is curiosity.
Love your answer Ingrid, that leaves us with a lot of curiosity!
Hank
Thank you Hank! Curiosity is a good thing…
This is definitely you, Ingrid. Don’t change a thing! Your kids are fortunate to have a curious mum. 💖
Thanks Michele 🥰
Very powerful!
Thanks Lucy ❤️
I also don’t do well with playpens, no matter how large they can be. Great imagery, Ingrid.
Even though Slovenia is beautiful, it’s been driving me crazy being no more than 10 miles from two national borders and not being able to cross them!
Is it still the case, Ingrid? We are now able to go to Austria, Switzerland, and just recently Italy with negative tests, of course. My children are both under six, so they don’t need tests at all of those countries. I hope you will be back into border crossing soon, friend.
I think we are also allowed with negative tests now. Planning to visit the UK in August, all being well!
That sounds wonderful. Certainly a lot of blogger friends to look up if you head that way. 🙂
Haha, good point! I was discussing doing a blog tour of the US earlier…
I smiled at this wonderful distillation of human nature. All the world is Pandora’s Box. (K)
Thank you Kerfe: if only we hadn’t bitten that apple…
I can totally picture the cat writing and thinking this!
Some people are as curious as cats!
We had a cat who spoke those thoughts, very true.
They are very cat-like, I suppose…
Our neighbours have a young cat who is the epitome of your poem.
exactly the reason why you write so well. this is charming.
Thank you so much 🙏
Turning 80 in September … I believe curiosity has helped keep me young, kept me moving, kept me engaged.
I loved, loved your quadrille. Cheers to you and keep on being curious.
Thank you Helen, I will! You don’t look anywhere near 80: you are amazing 🤩
Love this, Ingrid. Reminds me of a cat I had named Jake.
😊