Someone writes And shows you how To say what you’ve been Wanting in in every way; Try though you may, you will Never find the words To thank him—it’s as if He’s your other self now Lost in packing up those words That always want to get away.
This finely-tuned poem captures an experience I know I've felt too, and, in fact, I feel it about this poem (as well as other poems). The doubled "in" works mysteriously well, in the fourth line. I've read the poem maybe 10-12 times now and it stays fresh. The line breaks, rhythms, rhymes (say/way/may/away) somehow all work together to make emphases land on certain words (such as "him" in line 7) and the single instance of a word in italics also is just right. All in all, it's a tribute to other poets and a generous acknowledgment of the feeling of gratitude one poet experiences when reading another poet's superb poem.
This finely-tuned poem captures an experience I know I've felt too, and, in fact, I feel it about this poem (as well as other poems). The doubled "in" works mysteriously well, in the fourth line. I've read the poem maybe 10-12 times now and it stays fresh. The line breaks, rhythms, rhymes (say/way/may/away) somehow all work together to make emphases land on certain words (such as "him" in line 7) and the single instance of a word in italics also is just right. All in all, it's a tribute to other poets and a generous acknowledgment of the feeling of gratitude one poet experiences when reading another poet's superb poem.
ReplyDeleteSuperb comment, Mr. Levy.
ReplyDelete