Both of these poems are delightful. I love the playful contemplation of the word perfect, the way you turn it over so thoughtfully in your hands. The lovers one took me back a long way in time— but oh what a lovely twist at the end, the poet in love with her words.
The thing about good poetry that I love but am not good at myself is how just a few words conjure an entire lifetime (or at least era) of recognizable human experience. For example:
Envy,
could it be? Do I want what they have? No, but
I remember wanting to want it, and how much
the wanting seared. Not the touching and twitching
sparks envy, but their easy unscarred certainty
in one another’s pleasure -- that, yes. Not to mention
the ostentatious disregard of all things not themselves;
having my own well-practiced habit of invisibility,
Thanks so much, Francesca! In a first draft my poems sometimes just ... wander off someplace or stand still waiting for someone else to say something; by the fifth draft I've usually found what the real ending is supposed to be. And then sometimes it's Right There from the start...!
Beautiful. And the second poem is so delightful. I love how it takes its time.
Thank you, Margaret Ann!
“ Knowing when to go and going”
Perfect line!
I really enjoyed how you analyze what you felt about the annoying lovers.
I especially liked how you knew what you didn’t miss or want.
What you might have enjoyed was having the experience of being with someone with whom you could share actual thoughts and ideas.(not the twitching).
Both of these poems, give us some insight into you, Elizabeth.
The definition of perfect strangers was excellent.
The “Annoying Lovers” gives us a glimpse into your past before you put pen to paper once again as a poet.
I agree with your thinking about how your voice sounded.
I enjoyed your voice over just as much as I always do!
What a thoughtful reader and responder you are always, Looocinda. Thank you! 💛🌿
Really wonderful, Elizabeth. I liked the center of the world moving here and there. I almost never see enough humor in today's poets. thanks
Thanks, Wes!
Both of these poems are delightful. I love the playful contemplation of the word perfect, the way you turn it over so thoughtfully in your hands. The lovers one took me back a long way in time— but oh what a lovely twist at the end, the poet in love with her words.
Thank you for such an open-hearted, attentive reading, Melanie! 💛🌿
Oh yes the romance with words. Beautifully captured!
I feel so safe and seen when I approach words! Thanks so much for reading, Mary. 💛🌿
That final poem absolutely must be listened to! I laughed out loud hearing the annoyance in your voice!
Reading poems out loud is the absolute best -- the more I do it, the more I love doing it! So glad you enjoyed that one, Pat. 💛🌿
Wow!!! The tingles everywhere. The endings. The layers. The knowing. Thank you, Elizabeth.
Thank you always for being such a heart-full reader, Jeni! 💛🌿
I wish you could have heard my sigh at the end of the second poem.
Oh, I know that sigh, I have sighed it myself reading some poems! What an honor to have it come after a poem of mine. Thank you, Kristine. 💛🌿
Never thought about why we use the phrase “ perfect strangers”. Love the musing on this.
Poets have a goofy nine-year-old part of their brain that wonders about this stuff.... Thanks so much for reading, Petrina!
THE ANNOYING LOVERS is fantastic! Great read, Elizabeth!
Thank you, Kim! 💛🌿
The thing about good poetry that I love but am not good at myself is how just a few words conjure an entire lifetime (or at least era) of recognizable human experience. For example:
Envy,
could it be? Do I want what they have? No, but
I remember wanting to want it, and how much
the wanting seared. Not the touching and twitching
sparks envy, but their easy unscarred certainty
in one another’s pleasure -- that, yes. Not to mention
the ostentatious disregard of all things not themselves;
having my own well-practiced habit of invisibility,
it piques me to be practiced on.
That's me all over.... So glad it creates a picture you can recognize, Jenn. Thank you for reading and commenting!
Happy to do so! Your work is worth it.
Ah! Your endings! They slay me! 👏 👏 👏
...look,
the universe has re-centered a few tables over,
where my notebook and I sit gazing, speaking,
almost invisible, almost unmoving, altogether,
annoyingly, in love.
Thanks so much, Francesca! In a first draft my poems sometimes just ... wander off someplace or stand still waiting for someone else to say something; by the fifth draft I've usually found what the real ending is supposed to be. And then sometimes it's Right There from the start...!
It's amazing when that happens, huh? the "right there from the start" bit! It happens infrequently for me, but it's so exciting when it does!
It is!
I was thinking the same thing!
Elizabeth, I really enjoyed both of the these poems. The Annoying Lovers my favorite of the two.
One of my favorites as well, Pamela (don't tell!). Thank you so much for reading.