It Takes Two

[~Sophia~]

It Takes Two

I’ve read so many poems that kneel
and pray to and for the muse but not
a single requiem written for the edit.

One deranged word, a red slash,
brackets, an accent and voilà!
a new geographic tongue,

mismatched socks, an umbrella.
She is a he in love, he is a she
in Argentina, no - Bahrain

so(lo) a mannequin can’t
contort

yesterday into tomorrows
cut and paste and do then undo
go the distance or go back

mix colors. It’s the edit that
gives it life, that gives id
meaning.

[DanBierce]

Great idea. Very original theme, as far as I know. I revise (edit) my work constantly, so this poem spoke to me loud and clear. Virtually every poem can be better, and most certainly the early drafts can be. No nits.

Dan

[~Sophia~]

Thanks Dan. I love to edit. Sometimes not because a version isn't what I wanted to begin with but then, another day happens and something about it feels all wrong. LOL. I think they are all drafts (I suppose unless a poem gets published and then, you're stuck with it). Cheers!

[Virgil]

Another wonderful poem, and I agree what a wonderful theme. Very original. :)

[~Sophia~]

Thanks Virgil! For a long time I've thought of the muse as the christmas tree and edits as the ornaments. We can change the theme, change the color, hang tinsel, white lights or blue... the possibilities - endless!

[symphony]

Told ya! You paint your poems. This is wonderful. Simply wonderful.

[Virgil]

Thanks Virgil! For a long time I've thought of the muse as the christmas tree and edits as the ornaments. We can change the theme, change the color, hang tinsel, white lights or blue... the possibilities - endless!

That's a wonderful way to think about it. :)

[~Sophia~]

symphony - HI! Great to see you and thanks!

_________________________________

Virgil, I love Christmas too!

[Pendragon]

Doh! Think you dinged me slightly, there, since I recently posted without double checking the edit... Just kidding! Cleverly done, and a nice lesson for all poets. And a subject that usually doesn't come up for a poem and you made it shine! :nod::wave:

[~Sophia~]

Pendragon - The poem wasn't meant to be a lesson LOL. I just really love the editing part of writing! It's very liberating to know that what we write isn't cast in stone (unless published). Glad you liked it!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Great fun! I used to love editting my fiction, often thought of my first drafts as something that some semi-talented clod had left on my desk for me, the editor, to improve upon and in the days when one used pen and paper , I would delight in tearing up my first drafts so no one could ever see how clumsy it had been.

[~Sophia~]

It's been an awfully long time since I used pen and paper, or an old typewriter. Guess today's equivalent is the delete button. Thanks for stopping in PrinceMyshkin, glad you enjoyed it!

[AuntShecky]

Excellent! Every once in a while we need a reminder that writing is a process. Did you know that Auden constantly edited his poems (even previously published ones) until the day he died?

[~Sophia~]

Thanks AuntShecky and no, I didn't know that! I've always been confounded by those who claim they never edit their work. I'm always left thinking, what a shame it is that they ignore the significant other in the relationship.