visiting the asylum

I visited the asylum today at four

saw an inmate, we’ll name him Paul

then scribbling wildly upon the wall

asked I, why do prudence thy ignore?

…

spake he, not impudence but wisdom I vouchsafe

nor madness which may or may not affect

the appearance of this tiresome seeming defect

stay awhile, let not thy conscience chafe

…

idle here with me in search of the key

perchance the world’s ills we might together solve.

so stared I long and hard at the wall

whilst he with jibes and taunts spurred me

…

what exegetical nightmare hast thou wrought

how might I extricate, or explicate this riddle?

till a light pierced my fog-like muddle

Not one puzzle but many thou hast brought

…

in lunacy I scribbled above R. A. P. I. D.

at first fast and then with measured pulse slow

ten safety rules and six denotes Ayatana, so

stab me a short lais, lai, lay for love of poesy

…

MC Escher, ytniatrec, stands opposed to certainty

till reading between the lines and stripping

away all the ledger’s credits and debiting

Paul in sudden fervor began to dance with glee

…

for ownership of the lais ends when lay we the pen aside

the meaning vouchsafed by thee or me

allows the laity or critic to set our poesy free

whilst we watch it sorrowfully upon the winds fly.

…

his euphoria waning, he gazed sadly at his cell

how do I this place escape? whispered Paul

and replied I with knowing grin, stop scribbling upon the wall.

fat chance, laughed he, and embracing bade our fond farewell

...

Paul's Explicate My Poem Unofficial Challenge