Self-Portrait with Machine, mixed media, 2021
have you forgotten the still life the apple ambling with cosmic imperfection the fish who danced for miles who grew gardens at the knees the man in corduroy trousers, the fantasies that wept like rose petals, the octopus at his feet who are we to force meaning on this waltz of butterflies to play hopscotch with these unforbidden lines to make great wide promises with the finality of telephones i tell you. forget your science forget your sun there’s something that’s measuring Itself in these eyes (remember that.) these vexed and unapproachable waters the ligaments of these cantaloupe skies
My latest poetry chapbook, Has Had Paradise, is available on Etsy. Twenty of my best poems. Bound by hand to order.
The Used Life 
11 responses to “Have you forgotten the still life?”
the apple ambling with
cosmic imperfection
I love this line!
who are we
to force meaning on this
I couldn’t agree more.
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Thank you, Bob!
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So unique and abstract are your lines that we cannot force meaning on them and that is their beauty and brilliance. 💖
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Thank you, Michele! Your comment brought a smile to my face this morning. 🙂 Have a great day!
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My pleasure. 💐 Thank you, you too! 😊
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“wept like rose petals” and “waltz of butterflies” such wonderful lines as the poem builds and flows…and “forget your science forget your sun there’s something that’s measuring Itself in these eyes”…I love this…something being felt, something being thought and understood outside the science, outside of the “great wide promises”…we so often forget that…we must remember again…
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That’s it, exactly, my friend. Beautifully said.
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[…] some collages I made this week. I realize I already shared Self-Portrait with Machine in an earlier post, but I decided to share her again, not only because she’s my favorite of the bunch, but also […]
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Love it!
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Thank you!
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You are most welcome.
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