In Junior High English, poems were read in bits
and pieces: some brought on resentful snits,
because they seemed too very personally
direct: "Such is the art of Poetry,"
our teacher said. "It thrusts at you---at me---
"and if in your conscience, the shoe well fits,
"own it. And if you shipwreck on its rocks,
"perhaps yours is the sinking perfidy;
"perhaps it is a lesson from the Muse."
Then adolescent, long-haired Anthony,
with a surreptitious smile, slipped off his shoes;
and, in your line of sight, flaunted his socks---
clinging to each foot's contour; midnight blue
in color. From that moment, desire in you
entered a new, poetic, ecstasy.
A work that makes me feel
A work that makes me feel wistful and juvenile, in that I once again am in English class, casting furtive gazes at the cute boy a few rows ahead, scrawling unpolished poetry into my lined notebook paper about the curve of his lips and the curl of his hair.
A specific and familiar sensation, despite the years between now and then.
Brava, poet! As with all these Ad Astra (what a title!) I am moved.
Agreeing with Patriciajj that I just make time to sit down and read them all
Thank you for giving me one
Thank you for giving me one of the finest comments I have ever received, and for selecting this particular poem on which to comment. Although I tried to make it seem less like an autobiographical poem (which, too me, can seem to be too exclusive), it does proceed from an autobiographical event, which happened in the mid-autumn of my seventh grade year. The change it effected was almost palpable in its resonance through the rest of my life.
Starward
So many supreme works of
So many supreme works of wonder have popped up in your collection that I'm frustrated that I've been so busy and don't have time to explore them all. Each one deserves reflection, deep analysis and praise.
Here, you take what seems, on the surface, to be an ordinary scene, but under the surface, there are stories within stories about its significance. Anthony, with a simple, playful, demonstrative act, injected his own life-altering statement into the teacher's pat lecture and invited numerous interpretations, both sensual and delightfully subversive.
Highly meaningful nostalgia.
Thank you so very much for
Thank you so very much for those words. I have been reformatting the series---to be less about my personal experiences and more generalized (as I believe that will advance the series' purpose (to encourage the discouraged) better than an autobiographical approach would. Your comment is so encouraging and reminds me to make this the best possible series that I can. I am sorry if I sound gushy in the fact of your comment.
Starward
I love the way this crucial
I love the way this crucial series is evolving, and it's an excellent strategy to make the poems more generalized and accessible. You're not gushy. You're sincere. And that is gift. God bless.
Thank you. Those words will
Thank you. Those words will keep the sequence going, for sure. To me, for this particular sequence, it is more important for it to serve the readers to whom and for whom it is intended than to state anecdotes from my autobiography or imagination.
Starward