Nobody reads your poems
they only ever read their own
starting from your first word
or sometimes just the title
will set them off
down their private tracks
which superficially overlaid
look a little like yours
but they will be reading
their own trees
their own sky
standing in their own individual rain
sleeping through their distinctive nights
fighting their personalised possum battles
reading your words about their specific mothers
and their specific mother’s
specific tins of specific buttons
and you were thinking
it was your own heart bright on your own sleeve
when all the time it was just a torch
illuminating a blood red patch
on someone else’s arm
Indeed, very true sometimes, but how wonderful to be able to spark them off. But try playing them your cd and time how long it is before they start talking over it
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh so much, talking over your cd! But I think what I was exploring was that even if they listened intently to your music all the way through, what they hear is not the same as what you hear. I am not saying that people (particularly the people on this blog) aren't reading carefully and intently and with great sensitivity but that the poem they read is not the same as the poem you wrote.
DeleteYes ... but I think this is maybe a good thing, and maybe even what we really wanted anyway. (Well ... sometimes.)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Rosemary!
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