A Geography of Endurance Day 10
Porous and Enamored
Her only soft spot
is her lips—
I can tell
by the crescent imprints
of her teeth.
She traces every flaw
in the wood
while I watch, enamored.
Her fingerprints smear my buttons;
she signed her oath in spit and water.
She wakes at 100 mph,
drives two hundred miles
in the wrong direction—
blind
through Appalachian snow
and sunshine.
She walks heavy-footed,
chasing a sunset
we’ll never catch.
She only understands chaos.
Like a door pushed too hard,
she closes.
I am porous—
her emotions flood in.
I am hypersensitive
to the moment
she becomes herself again,
trying to birth
the child the hills left hidden within.
22 thoughts on "A Geography of Endurance Day 10"
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Vivid sesory imagery rich throughout. Especially love:: “crescent imprints/of her teeth.”, “she signed her oath in spit and water.”
Thank you so much, Pam!
My favorite is the last stanza-to birth the child the hills left hidden within.
Thank you, Linda. I went back and forth several times on if “the hills” should be left in that line.
I would definitely leave “the hills” in. It aligns with the depth and textures weaved through. I hope you keep chasing the sunset and turn in beautiful poems like this one.
Thank you so much, Fanny! I am doing my best.
And yet for all that she’s the hardness to your porousness, it also seems the wildness lets her bend and be flexible without breaking. Love that stanza about the drive and chasing sunsets.
Thank you, L. Coyne. I’ve become such a big fan of your work this year as well!
Line of the year.
“I am porous—”
Jeremy that last atanza ia solid gold.
Thank you, Coleman — that really means a lot. I do indeed feel porous.
The way you blend place and emotion is amazing! I especially enjoyed this:
“Like a door pushed too hard,
she closes.
I am porous—
her emotions flood in.”
What a series you have going here! Excellent write!
Thank you for your interest H.A., I always look forward to what lines are your favorite!
I appreciate how the poet reveals himself in this poem,
“I am porous
Thanks for the feedback, Laverne!
Jeremy, your imagery is very real!
Thanks. It’s lived, John!
Beautiful, Jeremy. This series is really working.
Thank you, Kevin!
So much movement and mystery in this poem. I like how the tension builds and does not quite end.
Thanks! I’ve been a big proponent of unresolved pieces lately.
This is fabulous!
Thank you, Chelsie!