Searching for a poem always does my heart good, and I especially like how Allison Joseph uses unforced and repetitive rhyming in this one. I think it sounds wonderful read aloud.
Untethered
Allison Joseph
what anger in defiance
what sympathy in doubt
emotions steady try us
demanding every shout
emotions steady try us
demanding every shout
what sympathy in doubt
what pleasure in our pain
demanding are our shouts
such hazardous terrain
what pleasure in our pain
demanding are our shouts
such hazardous terrain
what pleasure in our pain
mere thinness to our skin
such hazardous terrain
such unrelenting din
mere thinness to our skin
such hazardous terrain
such unrelenting din
sheer thinness of our skin
the ruptures and the breaks
such unrelenting din
mistake after mistake
the ruptures and the breaks
such unrelenting din
mistake after mistake
we rupture and we break
we stagger and we shine
mistake after mistake
inhabiting our minds
we stagger and we shine
mistake after mistake
inhabiting our minds
we stagger and we shine
we live our lives on spin
inhabiting our minds
and undermining limbs
we live our lives on spin
inhabiting our minds
and undermining limbs
we live our lives on spin
and thrive until we grieve
we undermine our limbs
then get the strength to leave
and thrive until we grieve
we undermine our limbs
then get the strength to leave
we thrive until we grieve
emotions steady try us
we get the strength. we leave.
what anger in defiance.
emotions steady try us
we get the strength. we leave.
what anger in defiance.
Copyright © 2020 by Allison Joseph. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on July 13, 2020 by the Academy of American Poets.
You can read more about Allison Joseph here.
I wish you mindfulness, peace, presence, strength, and some poetry as this week winds down.
What an unusual and interesting poem! I'll admit I was more interested in the rhyming scheme and repetition than the meaning at first, but the meaning is good, too. Let's hope we all have the strength for defiance.
ReplyDeleteThis is the perfect "chaser" to President Obama's speech last night! Allison is new to me, thank you for sharing her!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is a good one, Bonny! It . . . chugs along, almost like a train . . . pulling you along and then AH! We arrive at our destination. What a terrific choice. XO
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem Bonny! The rhyming and repetition are so interesting and fun and then BAM the ending comes! Great choice.
ReplyDeleteI knew this had to be a poem written for today. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteAnd And And ... thank you!
ReplyDeletefantastic poem for these times! Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI do think poems benefit from being read aloud. Thank you for sharing this one.
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