The
Trickster
The
Trickster is a shape-shifter.
He can be a
right bastard, disrupting
your life to
give you enough grief
to shift
your orientation; or he can
be a real
joker and frustrate the hell
out of you
enough to impede your
every
endeavor. But whatever shape
the
Trickster takes; he can never
stop the
mountain from coming to
Mohamed, and
all the shape-shifting
Trickster
can do is try to keep you
from
climbing the mountain.
Georgian Bay, Southcentral Ontario
Saturday, July 18, 2026,
The poem asserts that while chaotic forces
(the Trickster) can disrupt, frustrate, and alter your life's path, they are
fundamentally powerless to stop your ultimate destiny or spiritual calling;
they can only attempt to scare or block you from pursuing it.
The Nature of the Trickster: The poem
defines the Trickster archetype not as a singular entity, but as a fluid force
of chaos. It splits this disruption into two distinct personalities: the
"right bastard" (causing deep grief and forcing a change in life
direction) and the "real joker" (causing petty, irritating
frustrations that halt daily progress).
Orientation Shifting: The line
"shift your orientation" suggests that the grief caused by life's
disruptions isn't entirely negative. It acts as a catalyst, forcing an
individual to view the world differently or change their fundamental values.
The Unstoppable Mountain: The
mountain represents an inevitable spiritual truth, a grand destiny, or a
calling that is bound to happen. The Trickster cannot change reality or destroy
your potential.
Illusion vs. Action: The
ultimate power of the Trickster is revealed to be an illusion. The Trickster
cannot stop the universe from presenting opportunities; it can only play mind
games to paralyze you with fear or frustration so that you choose not to climb.
Allusion: The phrase "the
mountain from coming to Mohamed" is a twist on the traditional idiom
"if the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the
mountain." By stating the Trickster cannot stop the mountain from
coming, Stocco implies that certain cosmic alignments or callings are so
powerful they will seek you out, regardless of obstacles.
Capitalization:
Capitalizing "Trickster" and "Mohamed"
elevates the poem from a personal complaint to a universal, mythic battle
between human potential and chaotic interference.
Contrast and Juxtaposition: Stocco
contrasts high stakes and low stakes—deep "grief" versus petty
"frustration," and a malicious "bastard" versus a minor
"joker." This shows that the Trickster operates on all levels of
human experience.
Extended Metaphor: The
"mountain" serves as a metaphor for achievement, enlightenment, or
purpose, while "climbing" represents the active, effort-driven
response of the individual.
Tone: The tone shifts from gritty and
conversational ("right bastard," "frustrate the hell out of
you") to philosophical and epic ("never stop the mountain").
Structure: Written in free verse as a
single, continuous thought, the poem mirrors the relentless, shape-shifting
nature of the Trickster before grounding itself in a powerful, declarative
conclusion.
