it’s the taste
everyone can share
aristocratic in the head
serfs everywhere else
building your third life
brick by brick
from your working world
you’ll pay for it
regal, pretentious, just a bit off
biting off more than you can share
pooling resources from the deep end
there’s a breath so there’s hope in there
it’s the waste that doesn’t
scrape off your plate
a haunting image
a dog-eared page
an epiphany from
an unwritten book
laughing stock quotes
yielding the goods
This is subtle, I find myself reading and re-reading it to work down through the layers. The language is sparse, poignant, and beautiful. There are some really heart wrenching turns of phrase for me, like "it's the waste that doesn't scrape off your plate". There are some nice reversals, like "more than you can share" that hit nicely. It feels very well constructed.
The context is tenuous, yet it all seems very familiar. I am forced to work hard to get closer to wherever you were when you wrote it. I end up being where I am and reflecting, and I think that's a hallmark of good writing. Thank you for sharing.
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Martin Elder
Sun 22nd Oct 2017 17:58
A marvellous poem that says so much with so few, but as has been said poignant words.