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| Poet's Sleep, 1989, Chang Houg Ahn |
The taste is new;
a mellow concoction
of innocence and corruption,
without a sell-by date.
I keep coming back,
like the tongue finds a change
in the mouth; a chipped tooth,
compelling imperfection.
I contradict myself;
conjure burnt offerings
to distract from the foreign,
strum a long melody on a bone comb.
It is still there.
Stubborn and marvelous, circular;
reminding me, like drunken chessmen,
to remain true to my lips.
tk/February 2014
tk/February 2014
This is the first time I have ever heard Mr Stainforth read one of you poems, so I never knew until now that he is English. I think I might have hit him in a pub once.
ReplyDeleteThis made me smile, Tess. It seems we were both thinking circles and old lore. You'll see when you read mine...
ReplyDeleteI love the third stanza.
'compelling imperfection' ... how delightful to contemplate. Now, I'm off for a nice listen.
ReplyDeleteScrumptious indeed.
DeletePuts a whole new meaning to Stonehenge. I love the reference to the bone comb.
ReplyDeleteI love Stainforth's readings of your poems. I've been watching (listening to) them for a long time, in secret; he made your poetry come alive for me. I admit that I don't read poetry very well, or plays, due to dyslexia, so please don't take that as a criticism. I look forward to your Magpie contribution every week.
ReplyDeleteI'd use the word "fine" if I could be sure it meant graceful and pleasing...
ReplyDelete"to remain true to my lips"...beautiful. :)
ReplyDelete'..Like drunken chessmen' ... great imagery. Enjoyed the R.A.D. reading too. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThe taste is new;
ReplyDeletea mellow concoction
of innocence and corruption,
without a sell-by date.
This is so beautiful. a different perspective to Stonehenge.
The bone comb is positively humming this week ! Thanks
ReplyDeleteChanges - inevitable, when taste in the mouth - new...
ReplyDeletewonderful imagery - love the last verse especially!
ReplyDeleteLove the whole thing, but think the third stanza is my favorite. Wonderfully written.
ReplyDeleteI loved it Tess, and I drank it in like a fine wine.
ReplyDeleteCan you believe, it was so inviting that I had to listen twice to his reading! A most delicious write.
ReplyDelete"I keep coming back..." oh yes. That stanza in particular is superb to me. But the whole thing, stunning and stellar.
ReplyDeleteThat stubborn monolithos of Stonehenge outlives all of the makers, and we all have to content with its "stubborn" and "marvelous" encirclement. Moving Stonehenge so delicately within is an extraordinary move.
ReplyDeleteI like the drunken chessmen.
ReplyDeleteAgain, another fan of the boozy chessmen line! The Bishop in particular came to mind!
ReplyDeleteWonderful comparison and metaphors.
ReplyDeleteWe all must remain true to our lips.
ReplyDeletebeautiful, profound!
ReplyDelete"Compelling imperfection" is my new favorite phrase this week!
ReplyDelete