THE CIRCLE
You think,
why should I not
write a poem,
anyone can,
it just depends which way you look at it.
You draw a vicious circle
and tighten it.
You unearth a subject
and peel layer from layer beneath.
You watch word patterns form on paper,
Interpose form and content to suit,
use ideas as a competent tradesman
and bury your true feelings
beneath a smokescreen of symbol
until you even suspect your motive
for explaining yourself in terms
more circular than the most perfect of forms.
It is well that art is a game
in which it does not matter
which side wins.
I would not wish you now
take it seriously.
Comments
Luly Whisper | April 24, 2011 - 09:58
Poetry can hide your true feelings, but not necessarily. Sometimes you can reveal a truth better in poetry than in prose because poetry works through sound effects (the music of words), allusions etc as well as through literal statements.
David Maidment | April 25, 2011 - 07:41
Of course - the last two poems I posted were full of 'true' feelings. But note the last line of this poem - 'I would not wish you now to take it seriously' (ie this is a bit'tongue in cheek') One can get so obsessed by the form that the content becomes sterile. I spent a lot of time arranging this poem into a circle on paper to demonstrate this but unfortunately the ABC tales format does not enable it.