8 Comments

That first stanza is so delicious to read out loud (aloud? I never remember).

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I believe it's "out aloudly"

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That sounds right. Maybe a little pedantic, though?

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I mean, "out aloudly" sounds like something my daughter (2) would say with absolute certainty while looking me dead in the eye. I wouldn't question it and just nod and agree and we'd be saying it that way until years later her english teacher tells her to stop...

... and then we'd still say it in secret.

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That’s the reason that “pobs” (potty), “spangelo” (spatula), and “rega-lee” (regular) are still in play around here 😁.

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All that's left unsaid.

I was settling into this, and wanted to hear more.

Lovely.

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This is mysterious and wonderful. The concept of a "knowing look" or "knowing nod" is so intriguing. In a way I think it reflects what we're all doing all the time. Even when we use words, even very many of them, even when we're trying to be very precise, there's a degree to which we can only communicate because we already have shared experiences. Ultimately, the true, deep mapping between words and thoughts/emotions is elusive, and certainly not something we ever explicitly convey in the raising or teaching of children. I'm not sure if I'm making sense, but if I am...you'll just know. :)

I read your poem this morning and I read it a few more times now (mid-afternoon my time). It's splendid! I get a little more out of it each time, both semantically and in the noticing of new rhymes/alliteration/assonance.

Great work!!

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Thanks Mike. I really appreciate the time and attention you've given my writing. It means a lot to get such an in depth response.

And yes there is a lot that words can't convey very well, which is something you miss these days as we are working a lot more remotely. You lose a lot of the unspoken meaning in things.

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