That moment
when
You finish a good book, and
Realize how few books on your
Shelf are worth keeping;
When you watch a movie that
Makes you feel like dumping out
Most of your DVDs—
That moment when you realize
What words were invented for;
How ending credits can be
The start of a night spent
On your knees
writing
out ideas
and
talking
out
feelings,
spreading
notes
across
floor tiles
and
staring
at the
ceiling.
That moment.
When someone sees
You more deeply than
Even you noticed inside
yourself; when you recognize
That YOU are a story still
Being told—and all those
People whose gaze you
Hold? You are being
Placed upon their
Precious shelf.
I really enjoyed reading this poem, and it was one of my favorites of them all. I can relate to the exact feeling the poet describes of how it feels to finish a good book. I am often sad that the book has ended and always believe that no book will be as good as the one I finished. I feel less passionate about finishing a good movie than I do about finishing a good book. Maybe that’s because it’s easier to re-watch a good movie than it is to re-read a good book. This also may be because finishing a movie takes a couple of hours while a book may take over a week to finish. The speaker says, “the start of a night on your knees writing out ideas and talking out feelings” I can’t really relate to this line of the poem because I don’t often write out my feelings and thoughts after finishing a book I just let it sit in my mind and think about it. I often talk about what I have watched or read with my family members but don’t generally write about it. Towards the end of the poem, I believe the author is making an analogy of a good book or movie to a person. I may come across some people in life that I see as a good book. Their presence may have a large impact on my life, just like a good book. I may not want my relationship with that person to end, but ultimately some relationships may be over. I also found the visual appearance of this poem interesting because it reminded me of a musical note. The words seemed to follow the cadence of the poem, and I found myself reading the single-lined words slowly and the bunched up words quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou're the second person to read into a poem the inevitable ends of relationships... "I may not want my relationship with that person to end, but ultimately some relationships may be over" ... I suppose that's what happens when you read poems toward the end of a year in high school :)
DeleteI love this poem because I relate to every emotion expressed. Nothing beats the creative juices you get from watching or reading something incredible. You get the itch to write and wish you could create just like that; you’re so inspired by what this person was able to do. Even though you could never write in exactly the same way, what they did makes you desperately need to express yourself however you can. The words can’t help but overflow from your mind. Or there is the feeling when you finish a good book and sit there thinking about the characters and the world and desperately wishing that there was more but you know there is not. Except that the characters now exist outside of the author’s head; they are in yours too, and you can dream about where their story will go next because it’s your imagination.
ReplyDeleteI think this is what is so amazing about poetry and what you have managed to do here. You took an experience that everyone who loves fiction has had and put it eloquently into words in a way that gives you memories of those experiences and fuels your longing for more of them. Especially the line about this being what words were invented for is completely on the nose. Sometimes words are just a part of our language, but when arranged a certain way they make us feel, express, dream, and travel to different worlds, and that is so incredible. Like you say, art is about being seen. It lets you know that you are not alone in the way you feel, which is why it is so cool how you captured a small moment like this in a few sentences of poetry.
I connect a lot with this idea that some stories are so powerful they can inspire and alter one’s view of stories as a whole. I have read many books and watched many movies that are so astounding they remind me why I enjoy the medium so much in the first place. A good book or movie that exposes me to deeper ideas makes me so appreciative of art and the amazing things people have done. One good book or movie makes the others feel inferior in comparison because they did not have that same lasting impact. The connection of this idea to a person and one’s character is a very beautiful idea I think. To think that I have value and deeper meaning to others makes me feel very special to be who I am. This idea makes a lot of sense to me because I love movies and books, so the thought that someone sees me in the same way I view a deep and powerful movie is an idea that really resonates with me. I also really like the arrangement of the words in the poem following a creative stream of consciousness as they flow across the page in a single, skinny line. This line connects the big ideas of books and movies to the idea that people are also stories. Reading this poem, I feel like I am following the speaker’s own thought process as they draw this conclusion about books and movies, feel inspired to search for deeper meaning, and then find that meaning in people’s stories. The arrangement of the words does a great job of visualizing this thought process which I really appreciate.
ReplyDelete-Jack Dalton
This is one of my favorite poems by far for so many reasons. First off, I love the structure of the poem on paper/screen as it goes from a bunched up ball of words to a stretched out twisted stair connected to another bundled up ball of words. This structure makes it pretty to the eye and captivates the reader in. Besides the structure, the poem is more of a relaxed tone with language that people use in their daily life within conversation which gives off a feeling of comfort. All this to say I interpret this poem as the speaker bringing light and praising the concept of continuous growth. Humans never stop changing and embracing that is what makes life beautiful in my opinion. The analogies and metaphors of the movies and books really demonstrate the point being made. Viewing what's really of value and how the ending is sometimes the best part of it all. The title also brings significance to the poem as a whole. When putting things into perspective and comparing things you see that not everything matters and most times its the smallest details that matters most. This poem does not have a collage to go with it but once again I feel like the structure that the poem is put into is what makes it pop and have imagery. I resonate with this poem because the speaker talks about writing and I love to write. I am apart of my school newspaper and I love when I get the chance to write articles because they are outlets for a voice that I may otherwise not have in ways. Further down in the poem it describes the type of writing that is comforting but stressful at the same time, which is something I have been doing often. Pouring out all the research of what college is the best fit for me is where I start but knowing deep down that money will be the tie breaker.
ReplyDeleteThe first line really hit me. I remember every book that made the inside of pages more exciting than life itself. Moments like that make you question all things you do and whether they are worth your time and energy. There is something almost bittersweet about experiencing something so transcendent because it makes you question your day to day experiences that are not extraordinary. Yet, at the same time, they make you remember why you are alive.
ReplyDeleteI’ve always felt like movies have a unique skill to fully capture human emotion. The best feeling is leaving the theater feeling like you have a deeper understanding of what it means to be human. But this feeling can also be bittersweet. For instance, psychologists have literally coined pandora depression. It’s what people have after watching the avatar movies, desperate to live like that. I have definitely felt that. I feel like after that you try so hard to romanticize every aspect of your own life.
But ultimately, what is the most exciting and devastating are the people who enter your life and give you that indescribable feeling. I like that this part of the poem was separated from the rest because it is truly something entirely on its own. Meeting this person is euphoric and blinding. However, as a teenager, I have come to find that feeling fleeting. Right now, people don't feel permanent in your life, and honestly many of them shouldn’t be. The constant healing from past relationships and friendships is even harder when they gave you that feeling that you compare everything else to.
Wait until you are not a teenager, lol - that stack of past relationships and those layers of scar ... and what you choose to do with them, learn from them, change about yourself after them ... is what people call your "character" and "wisdom." It also leads to a healthy dose of genuinely not giving a flying fuck, which is one of the most transcendent feelings :)
DeleteI feel a certain connection to this poem and it communicates a sense of restlessness I often experience. The most uninspiring part of my personality is that when I was little, after seeing a particularly good movie I would adopt the essence of a specific character for a few days after, just to fuel my creative imagination. Even as a child I was greatly influenced by the artistic works of others and whether that artistry was presented in the form of a movie, book, or poem, it did not matter to me. I believe part of this is the desire to strive to be more expressive and share one’s thoughts with the world and with others. There is so much imagination within each and every single one of us, but the majority of the time we are too stifled in our day to day lives to express it. Rather we devote energy to mundane tasks that force us to conform to a role we are expected to fit, especially as children and young adults within the school system. I think that’s why when we see something that sparks that imaginative spirit within us we spend minutes, hours, days honing in on it as it allows us to for a moment revert to a side of us that we hide so deeply so often; at least that is how I pinpoint the feeling within myself. I believe that another aspect is seeing what we want to be ourselves in others, for example admiring the painting of an artist not only because of its content, but because the person put their thought and energy into creating it. I know I am often jealous of people who follow a path where they can demonstrate and enhance their passionate spirit every day, which is why in the vague and rare moments when someone notices it within me I’m forced to take a step back and, out of pleasure, evaluate what actions of mine made them say that. In this way the ending of the poem comes into play as well; it acknowledges these feelings and puts them into words, something we are often unable to do.
ReplyDeleteThere are several, upon several moments in which I find myself trapped within an inescapable fright of death. It comes in ebbs and flows, and is almost always invited by my wonderment and self-evaluation of my existence in this dimension, and in this universe, at a certain point in time. The moment I shift my perspective to envision myself as just another object, faced with simple chance and a cause-and-effect process, I alter my state of mind on the subjective and objective meanings of all things. All objects of facticity have equally “real” transcendent meanings, and I feel just like a book upon an infinite shelf of other books. I wouldn’t say I find myself to be particularly and spectacularly unique, synonymous to being “The Chosen One”, but I like to think that I will continue my chain of successes, and pursue a path of my highest-possibility of greatness. The isolation of the phrase “That moment” single-handedly characterizes how small I feel when finding myself deep in this psychological phenomenon. The shape of this poem reminds me of two separate nuclei of thought and perspective, and a mental downward-shaped spiral of thoughts that connect the beginning of one’s life to the end of another. I can only hope the way that I perceive myself is the worst possible way in which anyone can perceive me. But these moments of introspection, similar to the succession and conclusion of this poem, instill this bittersweet kickstart of inspiration within me, reminding me to make the most of my already consistent existence. Not only do I feel like I have one sole and inevitable mission to live as I am, but I also understand that I must die who I am, and pray that my legacy can continue if I make the most of my existence.
ReplyDeleteSo far, this poem is my favorite of all your works! I love it because I can (very much) relate to the feeling; finding and experiencing a new favorite book or film feels very significant to my life—so much so that other works seem much less important. A lot of the time, it marks me forever (or at least, a very long time) and is a moment I will always remember. For me, the feeling can be for several reasons—maybe I strongly relate to a work, find its message comforting, attention-grabbing, shockingly revelatory, or interesting (even making me want to research a new topic or start a new hobby), or maybe I just find the book or film very moving. Of course, I feel like there are many more reasons for this feeling to emerge, but these are the ones I can distinctly remember. The lines, “That moment when you realize / What words were invented for; / How ending credits can be / The start of a night spent / On your knees / writing / out ideas / and / talking / out feelings” perfectly put into words and emphasize the effect a piece of art can have on a person, and how easily some books and films can unearth new ideas and feelings in a person. The books and films I find most beautiful and thus personally significant in my life are the ones that are the most vulnerable and raw, and—usually—modern, or in some way timeless in its subject, theme, or message. Relating to your mention of being compelled to write out ideas, one of the ways I relate to this is how The Penguin Book of the Prose Poem: From Baudelaire to Anne Carson impacted me when I was in middle school through to when I was in my freshman or sophomore year of high school. When I bought the book, I was already very interested in creative writing and poetry, and I read the entirety of the anthology. As a creative writer, its poems took me out of my writer’s block, and inspired me to write out many, many ideas as I went along annotating each one. I brought the book with me anywhere that I found boring. To give an example of a film that gave me this feeling you describe in “Comparatively …” — when I saw The Color of Pomegranates by Sergei Parajanov, I was completely taken aback, and other films I had previously watched seemed incomparable. At the time, it was so unclassifiable and avante-garde to me, and still is (although, since then, I have discovered others that, too, are enchanting in this way), and it was the first film I had ever seen that was more like a moving art piece than a blockbuster sort of movie. Anyways, I love this poem, and I find it very relatable.
ReplyDeleteA well-selected anthology is such a treasure ... when I go to used book sales, I always thumb through a few poetry anthologies to see how different editors make selections for their playlists.
DeleteMost of the anthologies go for greatest hits ~ which at this point, I usually have in multiple volumes already :) But the more niche thematic collections (selections of light verse...the limerick...the book of puns...anthology of haikus and tankas...) can be such treasured compilations.
PS: I was tickled by the line "I brought the book with me anywhere that I found boring." The more I read and write poetry, the more inclined I find myself toward looking for the story and the lush detail in mundane life events. The world overflows with interesting treasures.
I absolutely loved this poem, not only is the structure so creative and aesthetically pleasing, I find it very relatable to my own life. There will be times where I read a good book, or watch a movie and it becomes so important and impactful to me. Personally, this poem symbolizes the ever changing nature of life itself. No matter how much you think you love a book, eventually you will read a new one that you enjoy even more. However, accepting the ending to something is one of the most beautiful things about life, and this poem really expresses that idea. How ending credits can be the start of something new. “The end” does not always have to be a bad thing, and personally, I believe that is sometimes forgotten. I particularly love this line, "That moment when someone sees you more deeply than even you noticed inside yourself ; when you recognize YOU are a story still being told." To me, I'm most impacted by films or books that reflect myself in some ways, feeling understood and related to. There is nothing more comforting than when someone takes the time to understand you, and this goes the same for books. Through combinations of words written on paper, you can feel seen. There are people like that as well, which I believe is implied towards the end of the poem. The way in which the poem is formatted makes the reading experience very unique. I'm forced to take each word individually as I make my way down, focusing on its meaning as a whole. I think it is so impressive how a short poem creates such powerful feelings. Overall, I really enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteThis poem stood out to me because of the way it takes two seemingly unconnected moments and forms an analogous relationship between them in which you can relate to both experiences. The first cluster of words illustrates the feeling of finding something special, transitioning through a discovery to ultimately describe the experience of recognizing your own special individuality. This poem is easily relatable to me, especially the search for a book or movie that resonates with me. As I am fond of both books and movies, I find it challenging to find one that I thoroughly enjoy, which makes the discovery of a favorite so much more significant. In finding a movie that’s special to me, it usually becomes a favorite because of its depth and complexity, as well as its ability to be applied to my own life. This fascination is paralleled in recognizing your own significance from the perspective of others. Sometimes, I think it’s easy to forget our own significance in the lives of others. This poem does a good job in comparing one’s own recognition of their significance to that of finding a special movie or book to put on a shelf amidst the innumerable movies and books that exist or are considered insignificant. Oftentimes, I feel like as individuals we tend to overlook our own worth or are unable to see our special uniqueness. However, when comparing ourselves to a scenario we can relate to, it allows us to see ourselves from a different perspective in which we can recognize our own depth and exceptionalness.
ReplyDeleteWow…that's all I have to say. How is it possible that someone wrote down exactly what I feel? I’m the kind of person who gets completely lost in a good book or movie. When I finish something that really moves me, it lingers in my mind for days, maybe even weeks. I remember when I finished reading my favorite book for the first time. I am an avid reader, but that was the first time I resonated so deeply with a piece of media that it changed the way I view the world. I think about it constantly, looking for other things that might compare, but often nothing else quite matches up. The feeling of wanting to dump out all my old DVDs or clear my bookshelf is so funny and real, because once you find the best book or movie you've ever read or seen, how on earth are you supposed to go on after that? I guess I can try to find something similar, but the beauty of finding a perfect example of the reason words were created sets the bar a bit high. I’ve spent countless nights staring at the ceiling, thinking about the characters, the plot, the emotions, and how they all connect with my own life; at night is when I am able to think without restraint or dread the future. It’s a powerful, almost magical experience. What really resonates with me is the part about being seen more deeply than I see myself. That’s what these stories do for me—they help me understand myself better, show me parts of me I didn’t know were there. And when someone else recognizes that part of me, it feels incredibly validating. It’s like realizing I’m a part of someone’s story, just as they are a part of mine. This poem reminds me that my passion for these stories isn’t just a hobby; it’s a way of connecting with the world and with myself.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I noticed about the poem “Comparatively” is that it is formatted in the shape of a music note. The author purposely bunches some words together, then stretches out other words. It is not the standard structure of a poem, but it is because of its authenticity that the reader is even more captivated by the poem. I related to the poem immediately. I understand the feeling of finishing a book and convincing myself that a better novel does not exist. I watch a movie that hits close to home, and at that moment no other movie even competes with that one. When the author says, “night spent on your knees writing out ideas and talking out feelings,” I immediately think about how I write my feelings down in a journal whenever I feel anxious or overwhelmed. The end of the poem demonstrates how each individual is telling their own unique story every day. Sometimes, we feel lost and alone, but the minute we meet someone who empathizes with us, we feel more sure of ourselves. For example, these past few months I have struggled with severe anxiety. During this time, however, I learned that one of my closest friends struggles with it just as much as I do. Knowing I have someone in my life who truly understands my feelings and inner thoughts makes me feel more confident in who I am. I realize that there is nothing wrong with me, I just have my own unique story. - Lily M.
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