There is much about this poem I love—see above—but it screams ambiguity, maybe even fear. Which is maybe the point. Full disclosure—while I’m a man who cannot relate personally to this poem, I know women who probably can. But I AM a poet, and so I need not understand a poem in order to feel its power. Thank you.
I read a lot of poetry, to me this is a very new voice, not just new wine skin, it's something else altogether like no one else--idea image metaphor. The train line slays me. I cannot wait to read more from her. Thank you so much Anya Johnson and ONLY POEMS. So inspiring to read this kind of talent.
There is much about this poem I love—see above—but it screams ambiguity, maybe even fear. Which is maybe the point. Full disclosure—while I’m a man who cannot relate personally to this poem, I know women who probably can. But I AM a poet, and so I need not understand a poem in order to feel its power. Thank you.
It is easy to see how this pure, sweet, poetic cream rose to the top of the pile and demanded publication.
You subtitled with the same lines I copied to paste here and wanted to read and play with again and again:
"Then the train arrives, rearranging our hair with a wet sigh,
the tail of the thought its own internal weather."
I read a lot of poetry, to me this is a very new voice, not just new wine skin, it's something else altogether like no one else--idea image metaphor. The train line slays me. I cannot wait to read more from her. Thank you so much Anya Johnson and ONLY POEMS. So inspiring to read this kind of talent.
Great poem! I especially love the "moon of my belly" metaphor and the enjambment at "that distance". ❤️