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Thread: Breath

  1. #1
    Something's gotta give PrinceMyshkin's Avatar
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    Breath



    Can you tap out a tune,
    barefoot, in a small, contained space?

    It’s a talent you were born with,
    after all, over which your mother cooed
    while your father, from a distance,
    beamed.

    There was your skin,
    your musculature, your several vital organs,
    but the organ for joy and empathy
    was in your breath.

  2. #2
    Liberate Babyguile's Avatar
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    How interesting...
    'Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
    And so shall starve with feeding.'
    Volumnia in Coriolanus

  3. #3
    Vincit Qui Se Vincit Virgil's Avatar
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    Fascinating! Excellent! Who says you don't take risks? One of your best Prince.
    LET THERE BE LIGHT

    "Love follows knowledge." – St. Catherine of Siena

    My literature blog: http://ashesfromburntroses.blogspot.com/

  4. #4
    Not politically correct Pendragon's Avatar
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    Reminds me of something I have always said about science-- we can explain how a birth takes place but we cannot put the breath of life into an otherwise healthy child who has been born dead... Great poem, mon ami!
    Some of us laugh
    Some of us cry
    Some of us smoke
    Some of us lie
    But it's all just the way
    that we cope with our lives...

  5. #5
    Liberate Babyguile's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pendragon View Post
    Reminds me of something I have always said about science-- we can explain how a birth takes place but we cannot put the breath of life into an otherwise healthy child who has been born dead... Great poem, mon ami!
    How is it otherwise healthy if it's been born dead?
    'Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself,
    And so shall starve with feeding.'
    Volumnia in Coriolanus

  6. #6
    Something's gotta give PrinceMyshkin's Avatar
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    Virgil & Pen: Thank you both very much.

    Virgil: Yes, the criticism of my lack of risk-taking did vex me when I first read it but "risk," I've come to believe, is in the eyes of the beholder. And though it wasn't at all in my mind when I wrote the first two lines, my sweetheart has since pointed out to me that fetuses do indeed dance, in a manner of speaking, whilst in the womb; and what more "small, contained space" can there be than that?
    Last edited by PrinceMyshkin; 04-04-2010 at 10:54 AM.

  7. #7
    WhispererMuse
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    I kind of like the idea of the poem well the idea i get from it, enjoyed the read.

  8. #8
    Registered User paperleaves's Avatar
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    This is great, prince. What wonders you show us through this small, yet powerful poem. The last stanza does it all for me (not to take away from the brilliance of the first two). As your friend, I wish I could offer you at some times constructive feedback, but I am always in awe of how you create such fantastic works that I cannot find anything to give you that constructive criticism on!


    love
    paper
    Last edited by paperleaves; 04-05-2010 at 09:57 AM.
    "real
    loneliness
    is not
    necessarily
    limited to
    when
    you are
    alone
    "
    -C. Bukowski

  9. #9
    Something's gotta give PrinceMyshkin's Avatar
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    Redstone & Paperleaves: thank you both.

  10. #10
    on the run lallison's Avatar
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    Nice! I always enjoy reading your work. Very procreative! Looks you've got the whole process down to a science.
    Last edited by lallison; 04-05-2010 at 02:33 AM.

  11. #11
    Employee of the Month blank|verse's Avatar
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    There's a very subtle tension in this, which sends me back to Blake...
    A robin redbreast in a cage
    Puts all heaven in a rage
    I'm also reminded of several of Scottish poet Don Paterson's (see my current avatar) poems, as one of his children suffered a birth trauma, something about which he has written beautifully and poignantly.

    A wonderfully achieved poem, Prince, restrained and empathetic.

  12. #12
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    Hi Prince, finally getting round to catching up with the threads. This is as always economical and elegent in its expression of concept. the overall effect is extremely pleasing. Thanks, H

  13. #13
    Something's gotta give PrinceMyshkin's Avatar
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    lallison, Blank|verse, Hawkman: Thank you very much.

  14. #14
    Registered User JacobF's Avatar
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    This poem made the start of my day a little better. The transition from the first stanza to the second is excellent. The first stanza evokes scorn with a rather obvious question, then the second stanza strikes me with the role you wanted the reader to assume. The third stanza really makes the poem. It's striking enough to make a powerful impression and subtle enough to linger in the reader's mind.

  15. #15
    Something's gotta give PrinceMyshkin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by JacobF View Post
    This poem made the start of my day a little better. The transition from the first stanza to the second is excellent. The first stanza evokes scorn with a rather obvious question, then the second stanza strikes me with the role you wanted the reader to assume. The third stanza really makes the poem. It's striking enough to make a powerful impression and subtle enough to linger in the reader's mind.
    Your comments, especially the last one, are very much what I hope for when I post my poems. Thank you.

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