Start the day clacking black
keys or penning these
filmy phrases onto beating
breeze. Find a way to wrap
word roots in ribbon or lace
or some trace of silly string,
some anything that will make
them stay. Tie (try) knots, bends,
hitches, splices, seizings, hold
loose reasonings and reckonings
at bay. Make loops and long
strappy reins of tired veins that
no longer flow the right way. Grow
stronger, hold finger and thumb
to rhythmic thumpthumpthump,
then jump
(change of heart:
change your
mind.)
Let them float away.
…
Written for Poetic Asides.
I love the word “fickle” … and the word “(de)fibrillator.” And now I’m thinking of Flatliners … one of the best movies ever.
Pretty much the whole midsection is my favorite:
“Find a way to wrap
word roots in ribbon or lace
or some trace of silly string,
some anything that will make
them stay. Tie (try) knots, bends,
hitches, splices, seizings, hold
loose reasonings and reckonings
at bay. Make loops and long
strappy reins of tired veins that
no longer flow the right way.”
And the snapping in the next part (however you want to take “snapping.”) I can totally picture you holding a balloon full of words, then jumping as you release them into the atmosphere to see if they float or flop.
And I could also picture you tossing them into the water to see if your mermaid comes to eat them up.
Jack Grapes, a par excellence writing teacher in LA would call that Teeth and Mouth; a fun exercise; note when you read it out loud; how your mouth moves; i once had a couch potato mouth, but no more; ahh if other advances with one’s qualities could be so easy!
Phenomenal Ms. De!! Hold loose reasonings and reckonings at bay–and Esther is right–what a fun read! My mouth is all happy noises and smiles
I love your choice of words and how they flow. It feels effortless. The bit about making loops with tired veins… Love it.
Thank you, Annette. Your piece was gorgeous.