my least favorite of them all {poetry thursday}
There are several words that make me cringe. I do mean cringe. But there is one, one that I dislike above all others. (Now, I am not including words that are derogatory or extremely offensive. Those are in their own category that is beyond and to the side of this one.) There are also words I love. Adore. Words that make me feel light and happy. Words that bring joy to my heart. And words that are simply fun. This poem uses some of these words. The ones I do not hate. And this poem takes you on a trip around the one word that is my least favorite of them all. The one that could be in the title. Can you guess what it is?
The word that must not be spoken
At the widow’s peak, gravity pulls the
droplet toward the crease between chaotic eyebrows.
Fingers dance by memory, though the mind is engrossed by the
droplet as it travels to the indentation at the left of the nose.
A faithful assistant, the ears seek distraction for the mind,
finding the “click-click-click-click,” side to side with no intermission.
The next inhalation diverts attention to a tickle, as the
droplet dives into the left nostril and dangles with prudence.
Exhale. The mind suspended with hope and dread, awaiting the
next intake of breath. Will it plummet to a gratifying demise?
As though in cahoots with the crescendo, “drip,” the
droplet plunges into a pool atop a sharp ivory landing.
poetry
Reader Comments (26)
Hahahahaha..uhhh..that would be the S word....
(Cover your eyes Liz!)
SWEAT!
Oh wait - embalming liquid!
OH man...ok, now that I have gotten under the surface...and realized what the HECK it is...
I'll make a list:
Lessons
Liberace (haha!)
Private Lessons
Recital
"We payed a lot of money for you to take these lessons"
You will take these lessons
Yow wanted this piano
Ya Liz...I'm little slap happy tonight...I went from Sweat to Embalming liquid/fluid to Liberace...Soooooooo...THERE YOU GO...lets do dinner... :-) Julia
Well, I'm thinking the S word. But yes, there seems to be a hint of piano lessons in there. I must confess, I'm not finding it totally clear - but it's very intriguing.
That's the question-"Will it plummet to a gratifying demise or not"
Interesting poem!
What concentration in that poem!
I love this poem, even if it is about your least favorite word....is it sweat? I think it's snot. Sorry I said it!!
Wow, Liz what a poem - the concentration and the outcome! Well done - leaving your least favourite word unsaid, but understood.
every word you write tells how much you love language - beautiful!! I want to thank you so dearly for bringing poetry back into my life!!! xoxo
this has been a very interesting
prompt
and i like your take on it...
especially how you
skirted
around the word
:)
Your intensity is awesome as the droplet travels its course. Love the click, click, click, click of the metronome. Very well done!
well done! I too love the way you "skirted around the word" and chose the perfect title.
so the word isn't sweat...though the poem is certainly about a droplet of that. nope. kind of like the word sweat, but don't love it, so i didn't use it in my poem.
the word would be inserted in the title after the "the."
i guess it isn't at all as obvious as i thought. but then again, i am the one who doesn't like the word...
distraction.
okay, there are so many words you could be omitting. and you are so right, Liz ... each word we don't like, personally, may be on someone else's list of words they love. I keep trying to empathize with you as a (little?) girl having to keep up the discipline of piano practice ... even though you may have really wanted to be outside playing with friends, or reading or anything besides following that metronome!
This poem is really good -- evocative of a moment in your life, so sensual and completely descriptive. I love it!
I must need more coffee becaues this totally confused me, lol. I think it is spit. Like when your talking to someone and they have what I call a "juicy" mouth.
a.
I am not sure...
I am a bit confused too...
Is the word "should?"
I think I am stuck on an "s" word because I read all the comments before me.
I think the poem is very cool - very evocative! I have no idea what the forbidden word is though. I'd have guessed sweat too. Or persperation. Based on what's going on in the poem, I suppose the word could also be recital, or practice, or performance, or lesson, except I can't figure out why anyone would be creeped out by any of those words. Hhhmmm.....
Are you ever going to tell if none of us guess?
Very clever and well written. You have once again inspired me to look at saying something without using the word. Brilliant!
hmmmm....just tried to leave a comment at my own blog and it did not appear. how annoying.
so a hint: the word describes the person (who actually is not me as my eyebrows were never quite chaotic; though i can relate to wanting to wipe your face when you cannot).
i guess i did take piano lessons for a couple of months in first grade while i was also taking ballet but then i had to decide between the two. so i took ballet instead. (and ballerina is a much prettier word than this one.)
There are three words that came to mind: teacher, performance and practice
What a great mystery....
I feel utterly confused
I am hoping you will be able to write-or have your husband write us the word......someday?
Yes, this is one of the yuckiest of sensations. Of course, you make it have style without mentioning what it is at all. Bravo!
Is the word, uh, pianist? That's what first came to mind as I read...
Regardless, great poem.
Mentor?
Whatever, I really enjoyed the ploppy sounds of the closing line.
Livin' on Main - you are correct!
I love the word piano. It is fun to say and write.
But pianist. I just don't understand that word. I wish it was pianoist. Pianist. Ugh. Had to write a poem that would fit that word (at least from my perspective).
Happy Thursday to you all!
well, now it all makes sense. The poem is kinda like those tests where you say the first thing that comes into your mind....my first thing was snot...not proud....but there it is...Then the next thing was the pianist..sounds like penis! oh god what is the matter with me.....