full

“Matters of the Mind” by Caliope Sparks

Today we present a poem sequence by Caliope, who is a self motivated poet with no current publications, but you can find more of their work on Bluesky.

Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the Equine Charmer

thevoice.dog | Apple podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

If you have a story you think would be a good fit, you can check out the requirements, fill out the submission template and get in touch with us.

https://thevoice.dog/episode/matters-of-the-mind-by-caliope-sparks

Transcript
Speaker:

You’re

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

Poetry

Speaker:

Month

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Speaker:

This

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

Rob

Speaker:

MacWolf

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

fellow

Speaker:

traveler,

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

Today

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

present

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

poem

Speaker:

sequence

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Caliope,

Speaker:

who is

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

self motivated

Speaker:

poet

Speaker:

with

Speaker:

no

Speaker:

current

Speaker:

publications,

Speaker:

but

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

find

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

work

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

Bluesky.

Read by Ta’kom Ironhoof,

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Equine Charmer

Please

Speaker:

enjoy


Matters

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Mind,

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

poem

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Caliope

Speaker:

Sparks

My

Speaker:

poetry

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

core

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me
When

Speaker:

I’m

Speaker:

cut

Speaker:

too

Speaker:

deep
The

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

seep

Speaker:

onto

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

page
All

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

pain
Nothing

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

lose
Everything

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

gain

I

Speaker:

Am

I

Speaker:

am.

I am

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

storyteller,
A

Speaker:

poet.

I

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

into

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hearts

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

others

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

lock

Speaker:

mine

Speaker:

inside.
Behind

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

words

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

write.

I

Speaker:

write

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hint

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

hidden

Speaker:

within.
A

Speaker:

person’s

Speaker:

soul

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

works.

The

Speaker:

patterns

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

stories

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

tell
Tell the

Speaker:

patterns

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lives

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

live.

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

reader,
A

Speaker:

writer.

I

Speaker:

am

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

teller

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

stories,
Just

Speaker:

as

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am
A

Speaker:

keeper

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

lies

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

hearts

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

men.

I

Speaker:

am.

Everchange

The

Speaker:

moon

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wind
Ephemeral

Speaker:

things
Ever

Speaker:

changing
Never

Speaker:

staying
The

Speaker:

tides

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

sky
Shift

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

I
Adore

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

change
Their

Speaker:

shameless

Speaker:

shifts
The

Speaker:

moon

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wind
And

Speaker:

all

Speaker:

ephemeral

Speaker:

things
Are

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me
Like

Speaker:

we

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

part

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

them

Worn

Speaker:

Life

My

Speaker:

ruts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

niches
Circle

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

leashes
They

Speaker:

drag

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

down
Tie

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

up

My

Speaker:

niches

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ruts
Act

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

chains
The

Speaker:

tighter I

Speaker:

pull
The

Speaker:

tighter

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

shut

My

Speaker:

ruts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

niches
Are

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

love
But

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

constrict

Speaker:

me
Keep

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

from

Speaker:

rising

Speaker:

above

Halfway

Speaker:

There

Halfway

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

broken
Stumble

Speaker:

upon
The

Speaker:

gap

Speaker:

between

Speaker:

us
Where

Speaker:

did

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

come

Speaker:

from?
I

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

knew
There

Speaker:

used

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be
No

Speaker:

distance

Speaker:

between
Me

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

You
Now

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

chasm

Speaker:

opens

Speaker:

wide
Me

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this
And

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

other
Side
Halfway

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

broken
Will

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

ever

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

able

Speaker:

to
Cross

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

divide
Between

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

me?

Dreamer

Worthless

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

wistful

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

dreams

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

make

Speaker:

me
Cyclical

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

cynical

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

me
Fast

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fuming

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

paths

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

take

Speaker:

me
My

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dreams

Speaker:

always

Speaker:

seemed

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

saving

Speaker:

grace
But

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

really

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

path
Set

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

pace

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

run
I

Speaker:

stumble

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fall
Some

Speaker:

days

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wish

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

didn’t

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

get

Speaker:

up

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

all
This

Speaker:

path

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

travel

Speaker:

may

Speaker:

cause

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

unravel

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

then
What

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

happen

Speaker:

when

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

masks

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wear
Decide

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be

Speaker:

more

Speaker:

than

Speaker:

what

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

am?
Will

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

strength

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

thoughts

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

dreams
Withstand

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

path

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

has

Speaker:

led

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

be
This

Speaker:

crumbled

Speaker:

old
Mess

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me?

Loose

Speaker:

Cannon

Feelings

Speaker:

tamped

Speaker:

down

Speaker:

like

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

charge

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

a

Speaker:

cannon
I

Speaker:

don’t

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

how

Speaker:

much

Speaker:

longer

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

last
Before

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

fuse

Speaker:

hits

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

powder

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

emotions
Blast,

Speaker:

react,

Speaker:

break

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

wall
I’ll

Speaker:

trip

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

fall
No

Speaker:

longer

Speaker:

set

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

road

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

travel
My

Speaker:

feelings

Speaker:

tamped

Speaker:

down
A

Speaker:

cannon’s

Speaker:

charge
Meant

Speaker:

to blast

Nine

Nine are

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

muses
They

Speaker:

each

Speaker:

inspire
And

Speaker:

have

Speaker:

their

Speaker:

uses
Nine are the tails
Kitsunes, the wise and

Speaker:

wiley
As

Speaker:

told

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

tales
Nine

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

masks
Day

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

day

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

wear
To

Speaker:

push

Speaker:

through

Speaker:

these

Speaker:

tasks
Nine

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

me
The

Speaker:

pieces

Speaker:

that

Speaker:

grate
And

Speaker:

I have

Speaker:

learned

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

hate

Shattered

Tattered

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

torn
And

Speaker:

Frayed

Speaker:

mentally
I

Speaker:

hope

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

end
That

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

see
That

Speaker:

this

Speaker:

path
Was

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

best

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

me

Reflections

Mirror

Speaker:

mirror

Speaker:

on

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

wall
Is

Speaker:

it

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

see

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

you?
Tell

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

know

Speaker:

all
Which

Speaker:

version

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

true?

The

Speaker:

princely

Speaker:

figure

Speaker:

standing

Speaker:

tall
Or

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

who

Speaker:

looks

Speaker:

so

Speaker:

blue?
Tell

Speaker:

me

Speaker:

which

Speaker:

will

Speaker:

fall
When

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

lies

Speaker:

I

Speaker:

tell

Speaker:

are

Speaker:

through.

Child

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

front

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

me
Do

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

think

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

aren’t

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

same?
Come

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

look

Speaker:

at

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

reality
Are

Speaker:

they

Speaker:

not

Speaker:

under

Speaker:

one

Speaker:

name?

Who

Speaker:

says

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

princes

Speaker:

cannot

Speaker:

cry,
That

Speaker:

depression

Speaker:

is

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

king?
Think

Speaker:

my

Speaker:

child

Speaker:

and

Speaker:

ask

Speaker:

why
The

Speaker:

bell

Speaker:

in

Speaker:

your

Speaker:

heart

Speaker:

can

Speaker:

still

Speaker:

ring.


This

Speaker:

was “Matters

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

the

Speaker:

Mind”

Speaker:

by

Speaker:

Caliope

Speaker:

Sparks,

Speaker:

read

Speaker:

for you

Speaker:

by Ta’kom Ironhoof, the

Speaker:

Equine Charmer.

Speaker:

Thank

Speaker:

you

Speaker:

for

Speaker:

listening

Speaker:

to

Speaker:

The

Speaker:

Voice

Speaker:

of

Speaker:

Dog.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for The Voice of Dog
The Voice of Dog
Furry stories to warm the ol' cockles, read by Rob MacWolf and guests. If you have a story that would suit the show, you can get in touch with @VoiceOfDog@meow.social on Mastodon, @voiceofdog.bsky.social on Blue Sky, or @Theodwulf on Telegram.

Listen for free

About your host

Profile picture for Khaki

Khaki