Can Hardly Stand
I am so wonderfully-made there are days
I can hardly stand it:
can hardly stand the fit of my tongue
in the plush coffin of my mouth;
can hardly stand the extra pinch of skin
which gives my elbows room to bend;
can hardly stand how I can aim a stream
and cursive my name in snow;
can hardly stand how well my ears
accept sound waves and usher them
through conch and canal to tympanic drum,
beats that I recognize as the rhythm of my lover’s voice;
can hardly stand the toes that curl
tight as testimony when other parts are being pleased;
can hardly stand those folds in the larynx
that open and close smooth as scissor legs
and cut loose the balloon of sound
when I just can’t stand it anymore.
13 thoughts on "Can Hardly Stand"
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What’s today ?? 19th, 20th maybe.
We writin
“cut loose the balloon”
I love all the details and the repetition and that broken with perfection.
Another.
Love each of these couplets and the whole.
makes my toes curl. you burly man.r
“can hardly stand the fit of my tongue
in the plush coffin of my mouth;”
I just love this.
Yes! That was the line that hit me, set the tone for the entire poem. And it’s rhythmically wonderful. You don’t abandon the reader; you keep it up to the final line. Beautiful, Buddy.
I love the sexual tension in the last part of the poem! I felt relief at the end. It’s a hot poem!
Great write, Bill!
my favorite couplet, too, is
can hardly stand the fit of my tongue
in the plush coffin of my mouth
Wonderful description!
lol, show off!
can hardly stand how I can aim a stream
and cursive my name in snow;
There’s a great balance of joy and humor here!
Well, I can hardly stand how masterful this is. Would love to hear you read this!
You continue to surprise me with these formal forays & and how beautifully you do them.