good poem. maybe wishful thinking but I must say as someone not very outgoing that I prefer the 'distance' that this forum provides....but maybe if someone arranged some sort of zoom call (skype), I'm sure folks would join.more »
Our lives are propagated by so much adversity at any turn, (the existential constraints) but we are as amorphous as our shadows and constantly inventing ourselves again, constantly evolving - breaking free by solely continuing to live and endure. The 'born under bad signs' came from blues great Albert King and thought it worked well within this context. As much as we are bridled and inhibited, taking a picture of ourselves in multiple points in our existences, it will always look different as there will be something we've surpassed and something brand new we are in the process of withstanding. So, the mercurial is our constant changing as well as that point in the spectrum we're pulling against or toward. You landed on a fascinating interpretation of the 'splitting of an essence' which works wonderfully too, but I was trying to further depict those obstacles bearing down on ourselves that 'break' our resolve unless we do the work to escape life's inherent bridles and preserve our true natures. It was very satisfying that the pattern that must be adhered to in the pantoum naturally brought these concepts to an interesting conclusion that jibed with my intentions for writing it, i.e. the final stanza.
I don't know too many people who have the prowess to deduce what this was really about, and I'm pleased you were perceptive enough to digest the actual aim of it. --Thank you for the vote and your excellent analysis (as usual)!more »
I know it is doubtful Wallace will see this comment but this is just one example of the supreme and adept verbal skills he possesses. These poems are treasures!
Evokes Little Big Town's song ‘ Tornado.’ -Same vibe and message- Some folks just churn these suckers out and there’s no denying their appeal--congrats Leslie!
This is an unorthodox poem - what with the rhyme scheme being different in each stanza - but I happen to like unorthodoxy and trees are an excellent subject for artwork. – I've been enjoying your contributions since you joined the site!more »
