Sunday, February 23, 2014

Stonehenge

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



R.A.D. Stainforth back this week in his black and white world...a scrumptious read...





24 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. This made me smile, Tess. It seems we were both thinking circles and old lore. You'll see when you read mine...

    I love the third stanza.

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  3. 'compelling imperfection' ... how delightful to contemplate. Now, I'm off for a nice listen.

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  4. Puts a whole new meaning to Stonehenge. I love the reference to the bone comb.

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  5. I 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.

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  6. I'd use the word "fine" if I could be sure it meant graceful and pleasing...

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  7. "to remain true to my lips"...beautiful. :)

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  8. '..Like drunken chessmen' ... great imagery. Enjoyed the R.A.D. reading too. Well done.

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  9. The taste is new;
    a mellow concoction
    of innocence and corruption,
    without a sell-by date.
    This is so beautiful. a different perspective to Stonehenge.

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  10. The bone comb is positively humming this week ! Thanks

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  11. Changes - inevitable, when taste in the mouth - new...

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  12. wonderful imagery - love the last verse especially!

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  13. Love the whole thing, but think the third stanza is my favorite. Wonderfully written.

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  14. I loved it Tess, and I drank it in like a fine wine.

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  15. Can you believe, it was so inviting that I had to listen twice to his reading! A most delicious write.

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  16. "I keep coming back..." oh yes. That stanza in particular is superb to me. But the whole thing, stunning and stellar.

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  17. That 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.

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  18. Again, another fan of the boozy chessmen line! The Bishop in particular came to mind!

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  19. Wonderful comparison and metaphors.

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  20. We all must remain true to our lips.

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  21. "Compelling imperfection" is my new favorite phrase this week!

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)