Monday, May 14, 2007
poetryMONDAY: Four Way Stop
The best symbol of the States
for me, is found where urban sprawl
assumes each road is both
more and less 'traveled by'
we try to find our [
and cross each other's] way --
a white line intrudes
a tidy box within the fugue
and for a moment giving up
our progress, we give each other way,
take and make turns, or failing that
defer to what is right
in some dim way required
to understand each others minds --
and through a veil of glass
meet each other's eyes beneath
the ever flashing lights --
a glimpse of the people
[by the people, for the people]
in practice, rather less grand than any flag
but none the worse for that.
[poetry train]
for me, is found where urban sprawl
assumes each road is both
more and less 'traveled by'
we try to find our [
and cross each other's] way --
a white line intrudes
a tidy box within the fugue
and for a moment giving up
our progress, we give each other way,
take and make turns, or failing that
defer to what is right
in some dim way required
to understand each others minds --
and through a veil of glass
meet each other's eyes beneath
the ever flashing lights --
a glimpse of the people
[by the people, for the people]
in practice, rather less grand than any flag
but none the worse for that.
[poetry train]
Labels: poetryMONDAY
Comments:
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mmmm - i love this Emily, especially given the symbolic power of crossroads.
The words combine here with such power that i could SEE flashing lights, a pattering of rain across a windshield, a partial eye blinking through the fogged window...it literally yanked me to another place for a moment.
The words combine here with such power that i could SEE flashing lights, a pattering of rain across a windshield, a partial eye blinking through the fogged window...it literally yanked me to another place for a moment.
--and for a moment giving up
our progress, we give each other way,-
This is simply wonderful. All of it.
our progress, we give each other way,-
This is simply wonderful. All of it.
I like this alot-we give each other way-or failing that, defer to what is right.
If only we followed intersection rules in all aspects of our life :)
If only we followed intersection rules in all aspects of our life :)
Love the use of parenthesis [] in this poem - it creates tension - and how it changes the meaning of the lines.
And the very American references: Frost, constitution and flag.
I could read this time and again!
And the very American references: Frost, constitution and flag.
I could read this time and again!
"we try to find our [
and cross each other's] way-"
Loved that! The use of negative space, the forced stop for the reader and a turn of the head to see where we're now headed.
Really enjoyed that.
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and cross each other's] way-"
Loved that! The use of negative space, the forced stop for the reader and a turn of the head to see where we're now headed.
Really enjoyed that.
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