On impulse (abuser song #5)

[joel]

On impulse of my finest motor skills
I broke their stems— so crisp I heard the break,
so clean the petals never shook— and raised
each pistil, stamen, color-scented bliss
in quick bouquets for adoration soon
delivered— represented love for you.
You love me, flowers fragrant to your breath
and fresh, controlled and killed for love through death—
for beauty these must broken be that you
receive love’s token; gladly would I wound
a flower for your joy. But tell me this
when you, most beautiful of lives, are razed,
deflowered by this selfsame hand and quake
beneath my strength: is not it true love kills?

[Doreen Peri]

What a beautiful sonnet! You are a master of iambic pentameter. Do you read a lot of Shakespeare and Browning? I know I've asked you this before but I don't remember your answer. Sorry for the repeat. Who are your favorite poets – those who you feel have influenced you the most?

Nice avatar, too. Great to see your face finally! I've known you for what? 8 years? A LONG time anyway and I've never seen what you look like until now.

Book is in the works, btw. Several of your pieces have been selected. Will soon send an email requesting short bios from all those whose works will be published in the book.

It's a slow process. Apologies for that. Thank you!

[joel]

Thanks for the support, Doreen. I am kinda proud of myself for figuring out the technology to finally get a photo in that formerly glaring empty hole.

And I can't wait to see how the book project turns out--thanks for setting up the possibility.

I don't read as much as I should, really. The poets/writers I enjoy reading most are the ones who post here--and not to sound cheesy, they (and other folks around at sites like the scroll) are my best (and only formal) teachers. Meter and structure are results of zealous, dedicated teachers in the MCPS school system (I like, by the way, that there is a smiley that pretty much sums up the Blair mascot, the Blazer: ).

My inner science and math nerd enjoys rigid structures and rhyme schemes, but I love free verse done well. I'm still in my blue period. Once I conquer form, I'll be more comfortable with freedom (and as a seminarian, that would be an interesting conviction to take into the classroom; I wonder what that says about my faith life?)

Anyhow, at this point in my babbling on Valentine's Day, I might as well assume anyone still reading is one of those participants here whom I admire and from whom I learn. So my thanks to you...

...will you be my Valentine(s)?