Lisa, I love both of your poems and found what prompted each of them to be interesting and in ways relatable. I have chronic fatigue and fibro which is quite similar to long covid. One day I feel great, I might have a few days in a row and then, I am down, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Sending hugs...
I love these two poems, and the idea of placing poems side-by-side to see how they talk to each other. After a few poetically sluggish days, I came up with two of my own. Not sure at all how they might be related, only that they were both born of little moments from my past week.
A cool possible interaction I’m seeing between your poems lies in the lines “as the balloon of us / displaces what’s left / of the party” - it feels like this could describe a heated ending to a relationship.
(Candor? For me, 'thin blue line' is a fear-teaching autocracy-prep meme that is not a notion for which I have neutral or warm connection, though I can see why some might in this context. I have both sympathy and respect for majority of 'men in blue', having once had professional authority and power, but NOT for the sentiment as I have seen it used, to justify militarizing peace-keepers.)
I really DID like the vision of your strength holding someone remote safe - I could see you hiking, climbing, & dodging the dirt rain... :)
Thank you so much for your candor, Mark! I didn’t know that “thin blue line” was a phrase used to refer to law enforcement. I was just describing the rope (which is blue). That’s definitely something I’ll need to tweak in future drafts, though. Thank you so so much for bringing this to my attention!
Wasn't sure, since it ~ works if one thinks in terms of the police barely holding the line between civilization and chaos... but it has been used politically to teach fear of disorder - dangerous in our budding autocracy. There's even a TBL flag. (T seems to be looking for an excuse to put military in the streets; believe he'd be thrilled if protests became violent. But this is way OFF topic, and I much prefer your focus these days to mine!!)
If my memory is accurate “the Thin Blue Line” was movie about a soldier in the Pacific Theater during WWII and the line was the difference between life and death.
Lisa, I love both of your poems and found what prompted each of them to be interesting and in ways relatable. I have chronic fatigue and fibro which is quite similar to long covid. One day I feel great, I might have a few days in a row and then, I am down, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. Sending hugs...
Thank you, Pamela! I am sending hugs right back to you. It’s a weird, strange invisible club that so many of us are in. ❤️
I love these two poems, and the idea of placing poems side-by-side to see how they talk to each other. After a few poetically sluggish days, I came up with two of my own. Not sure at all how they might be related, only that they were both born of little moments from my past week.
.
Poem 1
.
Dear ex:
My ear-chutes
are precision-engineered
to process only your
non-annoying words.
All others gum the gears
of my you-clock.
I will care for you always
and barely notice
the accelerating buildup
of time between contact.
.
Poem 2
.
There is fur in the air,
where it should not be:
marmot flung between my dogs
as I run outside screaming.
The neighbors hear and think
it’s a fight, and in a way it is.
Every small thing
fights for breath
as the balloon of us
displaces what’s left
of the party.
A cool possible interaction I’m seeing between your poems lies in the lines “as the balloon of us / displaces what’s left / of the party” - it feels like this could describe a heated ending to a relationship.
Oooh I like that read — thank you!
“My ear-chutes
are precision-engineered
to process only your
non-annoying words.”
Can I borrow this for correspondence with certain people? This is just amazing.
Of course you may! 😂
You are multitudes I think… carrying the submerged scars of Covid. I love your work.
Thank you so much, Patris! 💙
I love a reflective post with an invitation to do the same!
❤️🧡❤️
I will play along with the telephone game, too!
Great!! I’ve added you to the list. I’ll get it rolling within the next couple days.
I’d love to participate in the poetry telephone!!
Wonderful! I’ve added you to the list!
Both poems have such a sense of movement, too. The boat rocked on the swells in the first and the vulture swoop, samara spin of the second.
I love spinning samaras and that image really grabbed me.
Thank you so much, Melanie! I definitely share your love of spinning samaras.
I love how you reflect all these different moments in the two poems. Such a wonderful reminder to pay attention. Thank you.
Thank you, LeeAnn! ❤️
Microwave popcorn.
first kiss. EAOS. God.
Hurry up and wait.
"Hurry up and wait" is such an evocative line!
(Candor? For me, 'thin blue line' is a fear-teaching autocracy-prep meme that is not a notion for which I have neutral or warm connection, though I can see why some might in this context. I have both sympathy and respect for majority of 'men in blue', having once had professional authority and power, but NOT for the sentiment as I have seen it used, to justify militarizing peace-keepers.)
I really DID like the vision of your strength holding someone remote safe - I could see you hiking, climbing, & dodging the dirt rain... :)
Thank you so much for your candor, Mark! I didn’t know that “thin blue line” was a phrase used to refer to law enforcement. I was just describing the rope (which is blue). That’s definitely something I’ll need to tweak in future drafts, though. Thank you so so much for bringing this to my attention!
Wasn't sure, since it ~ works if one thinks in terms of the police barely holding the line between civilization and chaos... but it has been used politically to teach fear of disorder - dangerous in our budding autocracy. There's even a TBL flag. (T seems to be looking for an excuse to put military in the streets; believe he'd be thrilled if protests became violent. But this is way OFF topic, and I much prefer your focus these days to mine!!)
If my memory is accurate “the Thin Blue Line” was movie about a soldier in the Pacific Theater during WWII and the line was the difference between life and death.
I'm late with my reading! If I'm not too late for telephone, please add me to the list!