Paralytic

[luceluna]

oh Sylvia, you melt my soul

Paralytic - Sylvia Plath

It happens. Will it go on?---
My mind a rock,
No fingers to grip, no tongue,
My god the iron lung
That loves me, pumps
My two
Dust bags in and out,
Will not

Let
me relapse
While the day outside glides by like ticker tape.
The night brings violets,
Tapestries of eyes,

Lights,
The soft anonymous
Talkers: 'You all right?'
The starched, inaccessible beast.

Dead egg, I lie
Whole
On a whole world I cannot touch,
At the white, tight

Drum of my sleeping couch
Photographs visit me---
My wife, dead and flat, in 1920 furs,
Mouth full of pearls,

Two girls
As flat as she, who whisper 'We're your daughters.'
The still waters
Wrap my lips,

Eyes, nose and ears,
A clear
Cellophane I cannot crack.
On my bare back

I smile, a buddha, all
Wants, desire
Falling from me like rings
Hugging their lights.

The claw
Of the magnolia,
Drunk on its own scents,
Asks nothing of life.

[Poeticsiren]

I'll admit, she's good. But Dan-(not saying this b/c you are my friend) you're better. You can mish-mash words into sense better than she. I think you're natural at what she tried. When I read her poetry, I read it and think...wow-how could someone put those words together that are seemingly unrelated to make sense. When I read yours...I think--wow, those words work so well together and in such synchronius sense....only then I realize that I never would have thought to put them together in the first place. I don't know if that makes sense or not, but I think what I'm trying to say is that your writing is like hers, yes, but flows better...tricks the mind better into making you think they belong-but when looked at again, you realize the brilliance in making words fit that normally wouldn't. Forgive the confusing commentary. I'm tired today, so I'm sure I'm not making much sense.

Don't let it go to your head, but that's what I think

L.

[luceluna]

OH SWEET GOODNESS! Hon, i am not worthy of comparison with plath, let alone ranking ABOVE (?!) her!

WOW... i don't know what to say, except that it's a contrast to my other literary event today: i posted an article i wrote to the Australian Tori List and it got flamed for having 'crappy metaphors'!

for the record, i love your work too! i wish i could read more of it... perhaps you should scour your archives for something... this IS your board, after all!

Wow....

on the plath thing, though: i wish more people would post some of their favorite poems here... i'd love to find out what people other than plump and i like

Yay, posting activity on the board again!  ;D

[ScaryDan]

sorry. not intended as flame as per email.
fuck my laurie anderson record is scratched.
going now.