When you’re unsettled,
seal the moment
by way of
a talisman,
an
experiment of turning-
toward the next
place
to
grip tightly, pinch into a
knot, making
tension,
the urge to
flatten a wrong.
Know the story; go still;
find
a center.
~ Erasure of Lia Purpura’s essay “Two Experiments & a Coda,” p 142
10 thoughts on "When you’re unsettled,"
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I imagine that the original essay is much different than this. You have worked your Karen George magic!
Thank you, Linda. And thank you for reading and commenting on my poems.
an
experiment of turning-
toward the next
place
I especially like how having the spacing of “an” and “of” because it made it feel like turning the page literally and figuratively
Thanks, Gaby, I’ve appreciated your comments.
The urge to flatten the story….Karen, you are the master of excission. Thank you for motivating me to further experimentation with this form.
You’re welcome!
What fantastic advice in this erasure. I love ” by way of/a talisman,/ an experiment of/turning…”
Thank you, Shaun!
Another stunner, Karen. You have chosen great verbs for this piece – seal, grip, pinch. flatten. . .
Thank you, Nancy!