Originals
The conch's twist holds
an old world. Just beyond the glossy rim
where the shell curves out of sight
a half-full bottle plunges
into the sea. The green glass
has no end, its sides spreading
light like a coloured lens. But this ocean
is a dark edge, as if eyes had never lifted
its hard dermis. A wave curls
and becomes icecream in a turqouise bowl. You
are here, looking through spirals at someone else
who is you. The bowl empties
and a cold signifier stings the skull.
This time it is no echo
of the sea's thousandfoot rush, or the tang
of stale salt inhaled from a pinkwhite lip. This time
you are there. The icecream is just as cold, the glass
of beer bottles still shedding jade. But this could be
any beach. And now it matters
that you cannot swim.















Comments
--
when she walked, her knees cracked like a pick-up truck driving full-force over a deer carcass.
~stupidvagina
...The icecream is just as cold, the glass
of beer bottles still shedding jade.
If you take out "is" (in keeping with parallel structure), it eliminates the awkward flow and gives justification to the passive voice.
I will also avoid my tendency to over-punctuate poetry (and respect your personal style) by suggesting only this:
you are there: the icecream just as cold, the glass
of beer bottles still shedding jade. But this could be
I also played around with:
you are there. The icecream is just as cold--the glass
of beer bottles still shedding jade. But this could be
My problem is less with "is" and more with the comma. That line is asking for a more dramatic pause, and the comma isn't doing it justice; however, I am also aware that dashes in poetry and too much punctuation are frowned upon in many circles, so I leave it entirely to your discretion (as it should be).
Honestly, those two lines are the only ones I have trouble with in this entire piece. I think it's lovely.
It made me feel.
--
Hustlers of the world : There is one Mark you cannot beat...the Mark inside.
proposition:
what about leaving away the "is" here: This time it is no echo ? i think this would make for a better transition in regards to the following sentence also starting with "This time.
i liked this poem a lot
--
the sky
to night's last city
--
Life is a rough draft.
Your enjambment really sets the tone well, too. I normally try to include some constructive criticism when I read a really impressive poem like this to both show that I've though seriously about it and that I respect the author's dedication, but on this one I just have to say it's beautiful and I wouldn't change anything. There it is.
Previous Page123Next Page