Knots
Who you are not seldom rises
beyond midnight’s
sum: one strand thrown over
another, looped through
and pulled taut, achieving
tension and a sour taste
at the back of your throat.
Everyone believes this
doesn’t bleed. I lock the
windows, draw the shades,
twist the cord. Even distracted,
nothing comes undone.
O at the Edges 
Love this!
BTW: Being inspired by you, I am about to post on my blog the very first poem-like writings I have ever written. You inspire me, so I am throwing my fear to the wind and publishing my first “poem.” It is terrifying to allow my inner thoughts out like this. But you do it with such grace, I cannot help but do it, only if to honor the subject of the poem (Ornette Coleman) and your gift of words to all of us here on your blog!
Gulp! Here I go… :0
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Robert has been one of my inspirations, as well. I remember my first poem published on WP. It was indeed a scary moment. Best wishes.
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Thank you! Here we go…
https://danielpaulschnee.wordpress.com/2016/06/16/3371-days-reflections-on-ornette-coleman/
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It is terrifying, because even if it is abstract it is what is inside of you. Hidden and fragile, like a broken heart that remains un-cried. I am not fancy. Okaji-sama provides a subtle feat… I am an uncooked hamburger! LOL! I hope people at least consider my humble fare…
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Uncooked hamburger, eh? Made me giggle. Compared to Robert I’m Hamburger Helper. But what I’ve learned is that if I get some kind of release or truth or honesty from a poem, mine or anyone else’s then it’s a good piece.
Oh, I played tenor sax in a jazz band years ago, so this resonated on that level, as well.
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Ahhh… the saxophone..the Devil’s megaphone! Like Japanese language: the saxophone is easy to start and impossible to finish! Saxophones and Okaji Sensei and hamburgers and Ornette Coleman… he would have LOVED to be a part of a conversation like this. I can see he and Jesus peeking out from behind a cloud, enjoying our verbal antics.
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I firmly believe Jesus would’ve played sax.
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Ah, Daniel, your prose is lyrical and beautifully wrought. I look forward to spending time with your poetry.
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OMG! You like it? To have your favorite poet like your work is such a humbling inspiration. I promise I will work hard and keep trying to learn and grow as a “poem-like thing” writer!
Okaji Sensei likes what I do! I am blushing!
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These comments are so adorable. Now I’ll have to go and check out your poem.
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Ha, Daniel! You are always so generous. I don’t like your poem-like thing. I love it.
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You must, Mek. Daniel is very humble. The writing is stupendous.
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Hmm. What food am I? Perhaps the innards of a burrito. You don’t know what’s in it until you take a bite, and even then you might not know…
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You are the divine ichor that motivates the veins of the gods!
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I think I more closely resemble a wad of chewing gum stuck on the bottom of a shoe in a July parking lot in Devine, Texas.
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The tension in this poem is palpable. That first couplet is wrenching.
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Thanks, Leslie. I’m glad it works!
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midnight’s sum is very nice.
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Thanks, Linnet. Those hours add up!
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Beautiful and brilliant. “one strand thrown over another, looped through and pulled taut”. This provides a physical sensation that manages to pull and work the poem out there beyond words.
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Thank you, Chris. It’s always gratifying to know when a poem works!
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there’s something unsettling about the poem, perhaps it’s the image and action of “knots” (or the approximation of what it may allude to).
but that’s how poetry works. nice.
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Thanks, Jay. Then I have done my job. 🙂
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Visit https://beyondwords0120.wordpress.com for amateur poetry
We welcome your comments on our work
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BEAUTIFUL !!!
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Thank you.
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Absolutely beautiful. A wonderful read.
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I’m so pleased you found it so. Thank you.
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I like the strength
of words-to-image ratio!
I feel the strands twisting,
fraying as they go!
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Thank you. By the way, I found your comments in my spam folder. I’m not sure why they were there, but thought you should know.
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I appreciate that. I don’t know why or what to do about it. I noticed I suddenly started having issues commenting… I didn’t know if the book idea message I mentioned made it through to you. Thanks for letting me know.
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I’m just glad that I looked through my spam folder before deleting its contents.
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I’m so pleased you feel the knot!
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In a non-literal manner of speaking…!!!
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Hours of film noir magically condensed into a dark verbal elixir. How so many images fill my head from your words always amazes me.
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I think our aesthetics are often in synch. 🙂
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Again I really love how you format things on the “page”. I love how lines seem to slip over into to the next creating this really nice flow.
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Thanks again! I believe that occasionally offering the reader a “surprise” after a line break helps retain interest, and of course assists flow.
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