Confession

[vaneramos]

For poets Stephen, Erik, Elisabeth and Shimmer.


You told me the other day:
people can't read between the lines.

My life is a play of words
carefully rehearsed
yet I always forget what to say.

Unlike Garbo
who claimed she really said,
"I want to be left alone,"
I've gone all the way
courting emptiness
cool as an August lake
to wash the sweat of society,
stench of anxiety.

When real tragedies
unwrap my protections
you'll find a body
half drowned with wishing.

Press me to the bed
and never release me.
Bind me in your arms
until I weep for mercy
and beg you to love me forever.

Comments

Yes indeedie.

[ranjtheobscure.livejournal.com]

Moving as it does from the effaced and philosophical, through the telling detail, all the way to the honest emotion and highly effecting visual imagery of the conclusion, you have a poem to be proud of. Almost everything that modern lyrical poetry can do right, this one does.

Congrats, Van. This is sublime. Only a human who accepts themself, and loves others unguardedly can write like this. Consider yourself muse touched for this one.

Re: Yes indeedie.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Ranj, your words touch me deeply. The peom felt strong when I wrote it, and it's gratifying that thoughtful readers see something in it, too. As for your estimation of the writer, I can't even respond to it except by saying thank you.