Best Gestures

(a glosa)

since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;
– E.E. Cummings, from since feeling is first


Lady, I swear,
you could carry the world
in that gorgeous hat of yours –
our heaviest dreams,
time’s lightest smile,
our harried, hungry thirst.
The sky’s been known
to stay, and still
we still expect the worst,
since feeling is first,

but always lasting.
Your wide-brimmed grin
and all other forms
of quiet curve, the nerve
of a vein stained in ink
and did I mention
that I think I love you?
Are we not flummoxed
by our own invention;
who pays any attention

to the whisper of the breeze?
There – I saw your eyelash
flutter, a better sign
than spring, for those
of us with blood of red
and diamond pocket rings
just waiting to woo.
I think I shall choose you
as a sorrowed sparrow sings
to the syntax of things

unsaid. Will you say
I do or adieu? Perhaps
I am not meant to know
until the fall. Perhaps all
flowers are not enough
to paragraph this bliss, new
in its own skin. Perhaps the
parenthesis is on me
and each and all of this, too
will never wholly kiss you.

 

 

..
Prompted by Quickly in September, day 8. (An actual glosa this time.)
Also shared over at Toads, Open Link Monday.

 

 

 

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11 Responses to Best Gestures

  1. Kerry O'Connor says:

    This is absolutely stunning, De. This is my poem of the week (even though it is Tuesday). Simply splendid, stylish and evocative of the deepest kind of love.

  2. b_young says:

    I agree. And as far as I can tell you’ve got the form, too. Used it and made it your own.

  3. Marian says:

    i have no idea what a glosa is but this is absolutely fantastic. perfect. the subtle rhymes and sounds in here are just wonderful. i so admire this poem! (runs off to look up glosa)

  4. seingraham says:

    Nicely done De…really fine work with a challenging form, it’s pretty much seamlessly woven…I love the glosa but it’s very demanding and I had a ton of trouble and still need to do extensive revisions…brava!

    http://thepoet-tree-house.blogspot.ca/2014/09/creatures-frightened-by-light.html

  5. This is amazing! I love it. I think Mr. Cummings would enjoy it – seriously!
    I would not have known it was a “form” – I greatly admire your moxie in taking on different types of poems!

  6. Shawna says:

    This is a superb poem.

    These are my favorite parts:
    “Lady, I swear, you could carry the world in that gorgeous hat of yours”
    “The sky’s been known to stay, and still we still expect the worst”
    “for those of us with blood of red and diamond pocket rings”
    “as a sorrowed sparrow sings”
    “not enough to paragraph this bliss”
    “the parenthesis is on me”

  7. julespaige says:

    Stunning. I might try this yet. But just a tad overwhelmed at the moment.
    (At attempting to play catch up on visits… I’m making tracks, slowly.)

  8. These be hard, you make it be easy! A favorite.

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