Well, l didn't quite get it the first or second time l read it, but reading it out loud kind of helped. Must be honest, this is a new - and welcome - style of poetry for me, so l found it quite...intriguing. Since it's new, though, l'll not say too much aside from the fact that l enjoyed it, and found certain parts - 3rd stanza, the imagery in the first - quite amazing.
good job, and good luck.
~Misa
I see this as two lovers that are lost from each other. One's a little stubborn and keeps the other at bay and the other has the warmth to dry away the tears. They have the antidote to cure their loneness but neither will give. That's what I saw. In any case it is a nice poem.
This poem has quite a classic intonation to it, which gives me an impression of the works of Whitman, or the like. Upon reading this piece for the first time, I saw it as very abstract. Even though you use everyday objects and observations, you rend them in such a way that it feels as though we are looking at them through a different perspective-this is quite impressive. In the end though, the feeling I got was a longing; a disparity for two seperate worlds to be conjoined once again.
Imagery and juxtaposition seem to be your main key elements of this poem and I have to say that I have never seem them used more accurately.
I like the imagery in this piece in the first two stanzas . "Staid, brush fire dry, coat jacket sweat" is nice and paints a good mental picture. I like the way you contrast as well in the third stanza. It helps add scope to your message as you finish up in the fourth and fifth. I must say that they tone of the piece made it feel grim to me, but I quess that is part of meaning and part of your style.
I like your style here. I understood completely, particularly with the interesting observation in the final stanza -- "Two environments...Each the cure to the other." Nicely done.
Alex Hutchinson is an award winning poet and novelist. His most recent book is Twisted Trails, a collection of inspiring short stories about mountain biking. It is available at Amazon.com more..