Sunday Semiotics
I can’t remember where I put my car keys,
but I can conduct an entire Sunday mass
from a Roman Missal
unearthed
&
unscathed
after decades of deliberate dormancy
I know when to
sit
stand
&
genuflect
I can recite the Nicene Creed
while watching a copier spit one hundred warm facsimiles
(a relic term buried in tech-boom cyber sprawl)
— that I do remember—
among all that is seen and unseen
of a poem
pulling forgotten faith
from a micrologic mouth
27 thoughts on "Sunday Semiotics"
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H.A., I can relate to parts of your poem. Well done!
Thank you, John. Yeah, those ritualistic moments hit out of nowhere sometimes. I started rolling through this on Friday morning. So strange!
I know when to
sit
stand
&
genuflect
My favorite part! The pacing of this poem (and the spacing) really serves it well
Thanks, Arwen! I’m glad you like the pacing and the spacing. There are times when I have a difficult time formatting these.
Same here. I tend to mess around with the format more than the words themselves!
Exploring how rituals can outlast belief, and how the body holds what the conscious mind has set aside. Brilliant.
Thanks, Jeremy! It’s wild what the body and mind recall. I appreciate that you read and saw that.
yes, I can see the alternating kneeling and standing in the use of white space and the italicized bit of the Nicene Creed before it was changed to “visible and invisible”
Thank you, Gaby! The change was over a decade ago, and yet, my mind won’t register it the same way. The ritual and rhythm are just ingrained. Thanks for reading!
Incredible crafting.
Spacing is pacing masterclass.
Love it.
Thank you, Coleman. I really appreciate your kind words.
The memory of rituals is an amazing phenomenon that touches our sense when least expected and your words and form demonstrates this so well. As I read this the Latin mass and hymns surfaced as if it was yesterday.
Thank you, Virginia! Isn’t it funny what we remember when we’re not even trying to remember any of it at all?
Love, love, love this poem. The way you use spacing to achieve impeccable pacing. How you so well portray how rituals and memories are stored in the body, emerging at unexpected times.
Jeremy Stacy said it so well: “Exploring how rituals can outlast belief, and how the body holds what the conscious mind has set aside. Brilliant.”
Thank you, Karen! I am really glad you enjoyed this one. I wasn’t sure if the spacing translated. I am so happy you saw its purpose. 💜
Very nice! Muscle memory.
Muscle memory, indeed! Thanks for reading, Chelsie! 💜
I echo all who came before me about this brilliant capture of what is remembered and what is forgotton.
Love the landing:
“among all that is seen and unseen/of a poem/pulling forgotten faith/from a micrologic mouth
Thank you, Pam! I had no idea this little piece that literally started by a school copier would have such an impact. 💜
Love this creative way to present your concept.
Thank you, Linda!
”micrologic mouth” indeed! Word choice, white space, pacing all the details that add to that voice. Forget the car keys and just keep writing poems!
Many thanks, Sylvia! 💜💜 I am not sure that I should write the poems without knowing where my keys are— I need the front door key, which is on the same ring as my car keys. 😆
Awesome use of space, but I love this poem because I relate to it. In my book that just came out, I have a line about forgetting where I placed my wallet. But we always remember the things that matter, regardless of what happens to our bodies. Thanks for writing a poem that reaches into me.
Thank you, Lee! I’d love to read your book— congrats on your publication!! Yes, what we forget and what we remember can be quite telling. Thank you for reading. I am glad you felt a connection to part(s) of this poem.
thank you for these reflections after 14 years in catholic schools i can relate there is a spiritual impress
Thank you for reading! Yeah, the imprint is deep, for sure.