BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
Our BetterMost Community => Chez Tremblay => Topic started by: slayers_creek_oth on July 09, 2006, 12:46:13 pm
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I believe this is about Jake...by his father...
At 25
a man now stand you
on roots no one can claim
as good as you
(pure born god-son
look at you anywhere
across the globe).
At birth you were blue
I witnessed you suck
that first breath in and turn
as white as snow on top
of Everest. Pure. Pure.
Goodness and Mercy.
Jumble of words my only
clue to give to you
for your mountain view
to burn the libraries
and burn us too
(all that’s come
before you.)
Your (my side) grandfather’s
head handed him
on a silver Salome platter (he knew
more than he could hold on to)
and your great grandfather
stumbled and I shamble
and out of the phoenix ash
of my/your ancestral men you flew
out of the John Baptist ash
you flew beyond the pebbles
in the Jordan where we, the men
before you wash our sad, sad feet
but not for naught—the truth
when sung soothes far beyond
all gold.
I remember your grandfather
(not sober) singing, weeping
in my high gliding stone dead
gothic church—
“A voice of one, crying
in the wilderness, prepare ye
the way of the Lord.”
I remember holding you, screaming
with good rage in a Sea Ranch night.
Taking you outside under the moon
and the giant pines—screaming, screaming.
Holding you. I didn’t know what else to do.
Kicking. Screaming with good rage
till you slowly trembled yourself into rest.
Forgive us, Lord, we know
not what we do.
Good rage. Burn us to the ground.
Good rage. So little good seems
to have come of John the Baptist
and what followed. Your grandfather
loved John the Baptist. Wept and sung
his words and went too easily
into their good night
which I won’t do.
All these words and others too
are here for you, may they be true.
-Stephen Gyllenhaal
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Interesting... I had heard there was a poem about Jake in his new book. What do you think of it?
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I think it's lovely, some of the metaphors are obiviously personal and will speak only to them, but beautiful non the less. Thanks for finding that and posting it Chris.
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"Jumble of words my only
clue to give to you
for your mountain view" and
"to burn the libraries
and burn us too"
Am I mad and reading too much into this? Or are these references to Brokeback and The Day After Tomorrow?
It is possible that the mountain view relates to a certain insight into himself that Jake had during the filming of Brokeback. Also the TDAT reference about burning them too could be how Jake got quite bad reviews for his first big blockbuster. Or of course Mr Gyllenhaal Snr. could be saying something different that is only shared between him and Jake.
I personally don't totally get all of the symbolism, but I don't think you are supposed to as there are probably many personal references in here, but what I do know is that I like it and I do enjoy alot of Stephen's work....well what I have read so far from Jake Watch.
I love the work on Jake watch and the stuff that they dig up and I salute you Chris for bringing it to all the regulars here that aren't necessarily Jake watch regulars. ;D
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I think it's lovely, some of the metaphors are obiviously personal and will speak only to them, but beautiful non the less. Thanks for finding that and posting it Chris.
Agreed...I thought it was nice....
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Agreed...I thought it was nice....
I did, too. I'd love to know Ed's words for the first time he saw and held Will. I know he was floored by the way he immediately wrapped his little fingers around his index finger and looked right at him. And I remember him describing him to me as "fighting like a marlin" when he went to give him his 5:00 p.m. feedings - that's when he was at his most uncomfortable each day. Ed would often take him for a walk around the block, just holding him all swaddled up and walking, to calm him down. "Good rage." I like that. I think he's referencing "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" in that same poem he alludes to in another line.
I imagine Stephen would be a very interesting man to know in private life.
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This is beautiful, Chris. It's a window into Jake's life that seems to show how rich and deep his roots go, how strong the support and the love that's around him, helping him keep his course for the long sail ahead. Thanks for posting it.