metamorphic

she

came into

my bedroom

holding

a fishhook

and a plastic glove

and

in her

calmest voice

explained that

yes

it would

have to

come out

that

mass of

shrimp

pulled 

from deep within

my ear 

bloody

left me

barren

and a little 

giddy

but 

there are times

when i still

feel 

it

pulsing

blue veins

tail flapping

scent of 

algae

salt

my back

sprouts a fin 

and the wound

heals 

Reviews

[Eilis]

From the title on down, I can’t help but think this is about the shift from childhood to adolescence and embarking on puberty and all that means. The need for privacy to explore the changes in the body and then the ways being both human and animal can surprise us. How we have to learn to master our impulses. Desire and sexuality juxtaposed to responsibility and propriety.

The first part feels like a mother intruding on a young boy’s moment of discovery and insisting on intruding rather than allowing him his privacy. Those early moments and the responses from others can shape our entire attitude and understanding of sexuality or intimacy or our own bodies and can lead to confusion and shame among other things.

I sensed some of that here. And perhaps a sense of not being able to shake that even through moving through adult life and all the experiences that brings. It could also be alluding to desire itself. How it can take on a life of its own.

I hope I’m not off in left field here. Apologies if this is nowhere in the vicinity of the poem. I just couldn’t escape the impression. And thought is was a novel way of exploring the theme. Growing up involves so many growing pains.

[SkinlessFrank]

Thanks Ellis. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. When I wrote this, I has in mind a mass of shrimp pulled from the speaker's ear as some kind of embarrassment of being caught in something personal, or maybe some kind of vulnerability. Sexual feelings are one of the great mysteries. I can’t help but thinking that none of us understand “where we are or go to” when we engage in physical intimacy. And then that shrimp's "pulsing blue veins," "tail flapping, well, I think you got the point.

[Red Brick Keshner]

What an escellent read! so original in the use of metaphoric language. Thanks for sharing.

[. serah .]

-- well... maybe i'm not reading this as intended... but it seems like a description of a kind of phantom pain... which also heals... -- only brilliant poetry can explore and expand the meaning of known concepts... or so i think... -- there are episodes in my life that defied description... until now...

[...]

laughing...is this your uniquely YOU way of saying you got caught in the act? :) If it isn't, I'm still laughing, because I'm blissfully confused.

[SkinlessFrank]

well...um....yes....in flagrante delicto

[kmartell]

Your poetry has a lot of motion, catching the reader like a hook, then leaving him or her wounded and bloodied by the experience.

[roarke]

yep, love is like that... all of that. It is about love isn't it SF? You had me at the first break. Speed, focus and image..... only the brave and experienced can wield such command.

[Emily B]

how can it be that I read these words and never left a comment?!?! it's mind blowing, or maybe indicative of mind formerly blown

always good to read you

[m.s.early]

Manimal! I don't know if you remember that cheesy show, but this is much better...
Great form!

"in her calmest voice" Oh can't you tell this is going to hurt?!?!?!?

Awesome!

[M.E.Lyle]

Holy crap Skinless, this is magical. I love the format you use. I once had a bug of some sort fly into my ear while driving my motorcycle. It's an unnerving experience. I nearly crashed.

[Frieda P]

Whoa this is quirky and strange, I like it....strangely arousing, is that wrong? lol...enjoyed. :-)