Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Chafing

I may have posted this before on V's site, but I honestly don't recall. Would appreciate feedback on which version (if any) work for you and why.

Modified version #1:


Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Your gentle voice
is steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.



Modified version #2:

Far flung
and uncharted,
I am no longer tame.

Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Your gentle voice
is steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.

original:

Chafing
under the mildest
of constraint,

unable to
reign myself to graciously
yield to the least
of your requests.

Far flung
and uncharted,
I am no longer tame;
your gentle voice
steel-cut, no matter
what little you ask.

6 comments:

  1. the helplessness of flesh to steel
    I prefer edit #2

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello, old friend. So nice to see you here, and with a helpful comment as always. I find myself drawn to #2 as well.

    The helplessness of flesh to steel is a lovely line in itself. Let's see if one of us might do something with it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nice to see you too.
    I like your poem. It's about wearing someone down. All fast emotion adds to futility.
    I see it as personification of two forces.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting thought --- wearing someone down, which may be totally apt. I see it as someone unconventional and so far and happily encompassed in his/her own way of living, thinking, feeling that even the most subtle of constraint feels like a brutal demand.The person is cognizant of it, but can't seem to help feeling maligned by the least of requests.

    ReplyDelete
  5. thin line between helplessness and freedom.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hear freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose.

    ReplyDelete

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