You are currently viewing 1-2-3-4-5-6-7– Spirited Away to Heaven Photo Challenge #418
Photo credit Sarah Whiley

1-2-3-4-5-6-7– Spirited Away to Heaven Photo Challenge #418

Photo Challenge #418 was posted on June 14, 2022, by weejars in Photo Challenge. I’ve never taken part in this challenge but was inspired by what I saw at Sadje’s @Keepitalive website and wish to enter a trio on the prompt.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
*all good children
go to heaven--
heaven breaks down
all the children
plunge down, down, down
so they turn bad,
don't wanna go
no more to heaven
*
4 2 7 6 1 5 3
Father Sotti
comes a waddling
through the alley
beside the sea

a half-pint in
his left pocket
the crucifix
in his right grip

he will try hard
to reach heaven
until his skin
turns vomit green

but heaven's
combination
comes in a
dreamscape
that he
can no longer read

and though his confessions
are not private
and his sins
pee sodden be
the priest believes in heaven,
the one place he wants to be
*
7 6 5 4 3 2 1

the children in the alley
rise up, up, up, and away
where y'all think
they going,
spirited away like that?
they all chase after nirvana,
of vibrant blue luminescence
come on fluorescent lights
that tripped and trapped
the peccadillo priest inside
in an optical illusion
going up-- heaven-bound train--
when heaven exists down here
*
Trio © 2022 selmamartin.com 

*line from a nursery rhyme

From the photo, I’m pretty sure I’m witnessing the Phi Phenomenon.

I’m pretty sure the hanging image blinks in succession giving the illusion of “up”
movement like lights popular at Christmas time. They’re mesmerizing, really.
An optical illusion no less.

I looked it up and found that Max Wertheimer, the founding father of Gestalt
psychology was the first to hint at the idea of the existence of the
phi phenomenon as an optical illusion.

So as I wrote my trio of poems, (or more accurately, where the poetry took me)
I kept that thought in mind. Hope you liked them.


Thanks, Sadje,
Thanks, Weejars.
Image: Photo credit Sarah Whiley

Thank you all for reading, I wish you miracles.

Selma Martin
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This Post Has 17 Comments

  1. Sadje

    Love your take on this image. Thanks for the mention too Selma.

    1. Selma Martin

      Your post spoke to me. Lit a spark. Thank YOU 💗

      1. Sadje

        My pleasure dear friend

    1. Selma Martin

      I like to know that you read this, Tricia. Thanks so much. xoxo

  2. Jaya Avendel

    Love the inspiration behind these poems and their lovely wordplay!

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for appreciating it, Jaya. Thanks for being here. I bless you, always.

  3. Nope, Not Pam

    It works really well, though I’m a bit worried about that priest 🤔

    1. Selma Martin

      😉 thanks for reading but do NOT worry about that priest. He’s long gone to meet his maker. I’m sure He let him in. Poor Fr. Sotti, needed lots of praying over. He had a whole town looking out for him. That was the priest I knew growing up. Be well, and don’t worry your pretty head no more. 🤗

  4. paeansunplugged

    What a lovely take, Selma! It is wonderful to be inspired thus. ❤️

    1. Selma Martin

      Yeah, I got the bug… nice one. Thanks for reading Punam. blessings.

  5. Jules

    Your verses have much symbolizm. We all struggle with just what to believe. Higher beings, higher power, and yet we can make things better as we exist if we truly try. Not everyone has to have a guiding book or light. Humanitarianizm and doing justice needs to be taught from day one so-to-speak so there is little room for doubt of what direction ‘up’ is. And if there are any surprises ‘after’ may they all be gentle and good.

    1. Selma Martin

      Love what you say, Jules. May we all be enlightened so. I bless you. Always. xoxo

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