Wheelhouse

 

which I never knew was a baseball metaphor

and stereotypically I was that boy in the outfield

which shows how language loses its meaning

and how we steal for our own devices — I mean

there it is, it’s in the telling, conversation.

I never escaped imitating who I grew up with

and who I brought with me. why not just drop

meaning like a hot pan, treat language as Lego

to scatter and reassemble like, well, my nephew

does, who at nine I find unengaging but mention

him unlike those who group family with dolphins,

rainbows and — are metaphors out of style?

what if you trip over a sensational one like [insert

great metaphor here]. humour works time to time

but because poetry readings are so deadly? Or is

spilling your guts considered amateur, or worse,

American? The confessional seems misplaced.

Here they give away so little yet recycling my own

tropes, trapping myself in grammar and lazy

analogies… I could leave it there. pith. punch. I’d

usually aim for a long line, an unusual image, some

emotional depth but not too obvious and

far too often the overused epiphany. Instead

just a full stop or period but where did I pick

up ‘full stop’ since we never said that in Canada?

a round cushioned cork hurtles towards me

wrapped in wool and yarn and hidden in cowhide

stitches. The sun in my eyes, or merely day-

dreaming. Or a sting as it lands in my gloved palm.

 

(I'm amused that the previous poem posted also refers to the full stop. I was honoured to read at the Sydney Poetry 2nd birthday, yesterday, at Sappho books, and this is a new poem that I read out. A work in progress so would be appreciative of any comments or constructive criticism. A shout out to Adrian for all his hard work on keeping this site going)

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I really enjoyed this poem at the Sappho reading Andy.  I find once I've heard a poet read and have the cadences of their voice in my memory I enjoy reading their poetry all the more. 

Hey Nicole. Thanks for the comment. It was a great night, wasn't it? I can hear a lot of the poets' voices very clearly in my head from it.

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