I read a book about how hard it is to catch a poem. I wonder if I ever have. Or have I just lunged at shadows while the real thing scampers off to eat from bushes, heavy with metaphors? What bait does a poem prefer? Dust in the morning light, dancing like angels after a storm. A case of beer shared between friends because words are too hard to pour. If you place a heart on the spring, is it better frozen or raw? Cut in half or a dozen pieces? Never whole.
A whole heart is a poem unto itself.
Out in the forest, the poem I’m hunting is getting fat, eating all its emotions. Storing kernels of truth to help through the winter. Becoming trees long after they’re forgotten. Here I am, sitting on the porch. Steaming coffee in one hand, pencil in the other, writing empty lines over empty lines. Weak descriptions of a stripped-down idea of a thing seen out the corner of my eye. Here I am, after the poem slipped my grasp,
Trying to fill space after being left behind
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A/N
This poem was inspired by a passage from Old School Indiana, by Aaron John Curtis:
In no uncertain terms, he did it much better. Overall, the book was written very well. For all the prudes out there, the sexual components were a little much at times, but that’s just my taste. I otherwise would recommend this book for its great narrative and strong poetry.
About the Creator
Sean A.
A happy guy that tends to write a little cynically. Just my way of dealing with the world outside my joyous little bubble.
Comments (7)
This is a wonderful metaphor for the creative process. Well done!
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Very thought-provoking. There are a few poems I'd like to think I've caught but so many more that have slipped from my hands. Oh, so many more. Absolutely love this.
What a clever poem you've got here. I like how the poem became personified through your words. How you tease it. Ask it what it wants. Whether it's dust in the morning, or a case of beer shared between friends. I like how you reached within yourself, place your heart on a spring and morphed the whole thing into a poem. It gave me a little giggle when I read that the poem was getting fat out in the forest. 'Trying to fill space after being left behind' this got me speechless. Fantastic work, Shaun 🤗❤️👏🏾👌🏾
This is the kind of book review I like. Mostly poetry. Sounds like a good read. 👏🙏
I love this idea of hunting poems and now, I'm intrigued by the book too. I wonder what bait to use...
This I resonate with on such a deep level! even with what I consider my best work, when I think I did catch a proper poem, I still wonder if I really did or if the real poem escaped! well done, Shaun, love your thought provoking words and the fom! thanks for the recommendation too!