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Never forget
where you are
when you notice
that your hand
that your hand
has been
settled
on your face
for 10 minutes (
or an hour). Never
let go of the times
that show you (
how far past
knowing it)
you are here
you are here
with yourself.
Go to a mirror
or a wide eye &
look – or just
reach back
up &
feel
your face,
still red warm,
warm and sticky,
contented. Remember
what you do to the things
you touch: the things you touch
Remember.
I like this one – the picture and the poem. So few of these poems come out sounding peaceful & positive, but the ones that do approach their true intention – the real reason that I write: to pass on the experiences that move my mind to its best and clearest state the place where I fade from center and the immediate, perceivable world, in a coming-going moment, flows through me ... I know that sounds like a trite stem, but it roots in a concrete feeling).
ReplyDeleteI guess that means the other 95% of my poems are just burning off the tar when it sticks (useful for me, but probably not for you – my thanks for your good humor).
And thanks to AJ (surfers), Ellie (fan hands), Jerry (lizard thumb), Julie P. (tree light) Krista (MLK), Cameron O. (bed head), and Jacquie (the tiger) et al. for making this collage full.
That's a metaphor ;)
I love how this poem visually represents the images presented in words through shape. I didn't quite understand the shape of the poem at first - then I read the first couple of lines: "...your hand has been settled on your face..." and realized this image, shaped in words, had been right before me without me knowing it. The title "Sticky Note..." is such an accurate representation of the idea of remembrance and the physical act of something "sticking" to another. The ideas presented in this poem reflect the same sentiment of the phrase: "You cannot touch something without being touched" or, in scientific terms, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This idea becomes particularly evident at the end of the poem with the statement: "Remember what you do to the things you touch: the things you touch Remember". I also found it interesting to find that this poem can be read in a multitude of ways. Not only does it make sense if all the words are read sequencially from line to line, but it also makes sense if the poem is divided down the middle (a left and right side) and read from top to bottom. The right side of the poem can be from the perspective of what is being touched; from there sprouts new and different meaning as a separate poem in itself. Overall, this poem perfectly captures a sense of cause and effect, of reflection, and the permanence of memories. It was quite enjoyable to read and even more so to contemplate.
ReplyDeleteI believe that repetition, which is accentuated by the structure of the poem, serves a technique to convey the idea that humans are happiest when they can turn off their brains and live in the moment. The word “remember” is repeated in several times, and the idea of “never”, as applied to the concept of “forget” or “let go of the times”, is frequently used. Both of this relate to the concept of forever and holding onto what one has recently experienced. In the case of this poem, the recent event is a feeling of carelessness and relaxation where you can only realize your hand had been on your face after “10 minutes (or an hour)”. In order for such a thing to happy, one would have to essentially turn off his or her brain, but this is what the speaker of the poem is suggesting is necessary to “never forget” and “remember”. This is because in this state man is inherently happy and content unlike any other time. Ultimately, it is important to always have this feeling in mind in the hopes that it can be replicated and bliss can once again be achieved.
ReplyDeleteThe main idea I got from this poem was to live in the moment. It makes me think about my life now and how much it is going to change due to the fact I am going to college so soon. I have to focus on the present and my friends and family while they are surrounding me everyday. I take them and my city for granted when I need to appreciate it and spend as much time as I can now with them. This poem helped me realize this and made me reflect on this.
ReplyDeleteThis poem truly made me think about my impact in the world, other people, and most of all, on myself. Everything I do has repercussions whether they be good or bad. But, as the final lines of the poem remind me, the most important thing is to remember those repercussions and learn from them. I also really enjoyed the format of this poem. The spacing between the lines at times made me forget what had come before the previous word, or where I was in the poem. This added to the content of what the poem was about and made me feel like I was not only reading the poem, but living it.
ReplyDelete