I Could Jump The Track...

So this is my first blog, and I'm doing it in a very spur-of-the-moment fashion! I was inspired by Emilie Autumn, a singer, violinist, writer and performer extraordinaire. I stumbled across one of her poems from a Poetry Reading CD called 'Your Sugar Sits Untouched' on 'YouTube'. I knew I had read this poem before, but it seemed to have struck a different chord within me upon hearing her read it. The poem is entitled 'Jump The Track'.



In this light the dust is visible
Glowing, golden atmosphere
Even the air I breathe is full of memories
Shades of others bathe my skin
And since I am alone, I wonder
Who on earth would ever know
If I slipped into the other side
Without making a sound
without blinking an eye
without slowing down at all.
I could jump the track

Still the wheels are turning
Landscapes echo in my mind
Flying past my windows
How could anyone fear this place?
And since I am alone, I wonder
Who on earth, would ever guess?
If I cross this fragile strand that binds
Without making a noise
Without skipping a beat
Without slowing down at all
I could jump the track.

And what were specters now have faces
Casting light in darkened places
Those that I have loved are with me
Never gone, but ever drifting
Through the treads of my existence
Courses running, side by side
Paths entwining, realigning
Meeting, past the great divide
In the realm that phantoms hide
Sanctified. Occupied.
And since I am alone, I wonder
Who on earth, would ever care?
If I slipped away before my time
Without saying a word
Without praying to god
Without slowing down at all
I could jump the track
I could jump the track
I could jump

You can hear her read it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9pLwFgOCd0

I think what I liked most about this poem was the fact that it tackled an overdone and heavy subject from a very different perspective. Instead of being about suicidal thoughts, depression and angst, Emilie seemed to be looking at the subject simply from a more speculative viewpoint. It painted an image for me of those times where you’re warm and cozy, looking out a window and you’re just deep in thought… reminiscing about life, pondering over death and just wondering what’s truly out there, and what there is in the afterlife. I’m sure everyone has those kinds of thoughts.

The lines ‘Still the wheels are turning / Landscapes echo in my mind / Flying past my windows’ could be metaphorical, but it’d make sense for them to be literal too, as one place I know I personally spend a lot of time simply thinking is on train rides or car rides, seeing the landscapes float by and getting lost in your thoughts. Interestingly enough, the poem also gives me a feeling of nostalgia, even though I’m not entirely sure why. I took the abrupt ending of the poem as representing that she had arrived at her destination, or someone interrupted her time thinking alone, cutting her off mid-thought.

Analyzing aside, I just really enjoyed this poem as it made me think and kept me captivated with its descriptive imagery. Hooray!

So there’s my first blog! Hooray?
My next one is going to be about Lady GaGa… so I hope you are all prepared...
Now I'm off to write my Jabberwocky inspired story!

-JPIKE