Marvelous words and work.

Aberjhani

a unique glimpse into the subjective linguistics of what is and what is to be ...

thought provoking ...

Again intricate and complex and very fulfiling. Love it. Liz

...creative brilliance...spelled out...words to remain...never erasable poetry.
wonderful Kate...
John

Kate - Amazing poem. So much expressed in so few words. Loved the physicality of the chalk between her fingers at the beginning and the end, and the connotation of the "long, short, fat, thin," words. Especially liked:

she asks for loud words,
like “terminal”,
while quiet ones,
like “forever”,
crumble in the silence
of her chalky hands.

Excellent! - David

such a poignant write-such power in words

Coming on late, Kate, I do have a few choice words for you lasting composition: thoughtful, loving, helpful, amazing, amusing... and gutsy.
Thank you, Learned Brit Friend! - Bill

I have a word for you, Kate..."poetess"...for that is what you are. Your last lines...incredible!

All that we can imagine about the teacher, her life and feelings, her fears and sorrow... but I'm already interpreting, things that are not written, words that are left unsaid, looking for connotations, associations. Subtly powerful...

Axilea

It is always amazing how different people and at different times associate words with meanings according to their moods or what is happening in their lifes. You captured this well in this short but concise write that cuts to the chase. Keep em coming Sweet Kate always look forward to yoru postings.
hugs
Pops

I love the words you use, here. Well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

Sometimes you can just picture the words by the way they sound, can't you? I did, and enjoyed every one. :)

Kate,
I see this as an evocation of the struggle to commuunicate all of us go through, searching for words and the meaning and thought values they carry or what we think they do; it has as well a certain stream of consciousness and that old but always exciting 'game' of word association.
John

Ah Kate. Were you a teacher to put such feelings and words together? or a student ? This poem gives the essence of teaching. Thank you.

This poem appeals to that lover of linguistics deep within me. It's too true that certain words have characters-- just in the sounds of them. Like "spike" and "dynamite"-- they're such harsh words that spit and scream. "Knife" also screams, though it doesn't spit. That naked, slithery "n" sound slides into the scream of the long "i", and sizzles in the fricative "f" at the end. A thin, piercing word indeed. "Forever" is a quiet word to boot. You're right on here... all those soft sounds that melt into the air and disappear. I love this--so food for my soul stuff, Kate! --Charlie

...words can slice and dice one, make you laugh and cry..makes me think of the saying.. choose your words carefully. wow you did it again Kate,, fabulous in originality!
Love,
Christine

That last stanza...yowie! It just cuts to the core of me and leaves me feeling lost and forlorn. A "forever" crumbling is such a sad, sad thing.

Cryssa

A great lesson in life and literacy!

Excellent poem you have written,take care :-)

Edwin

No, no, no... please don't worry! This is pure fiction and I was aware of the twist in the knife (!!) of words in the final stanza, but decided that took the poem in a direction I hadn't first intended, but quite liked the open-endedness of. "Terminal" was originally a fumbler for the sense of "termination", but I decided it could be both. Thanks for perhaps raising this, Eileen. It's certainly not the old Big C back again, thank God. xx

Like Eileen said there is more to this poem than just the words the teacher asked for as you have faced the knife and always pray it will never return for an encore. As always you leave them guessing or at least me.

I agree with Gene and Jerry! made it easy for me;-)
But i also wonder if this has an underlying meaning
I hope not, because words like "knife and terminal"
are troubling...your poetry is rare and wonderful!

Love,
Eileen

Kate,

'Words like, superlative; exceptional; stunning - is what your poetry is . . . thanks for your talent!!


Hugs,

Lance

I have a word for this (and you), Kate: marvelous.
Translation: mind-blowing. And the folks across the
channel would agree: magnifique. -gene.

Again capturing all the (elements) of moments of light interacting amid all the senses gathered .~. eVol Ted

Kate,

Wonderful poem about a forlorn teacher.

Mary

Ah . . . Leave it to you to take your poetry and stand it on the ledge of a deep precipice . . . Without fear of losing your wordage and tumbling into the chasm of regret . . . Of all the poets here, and there are some good ones, you, my friend, stand alone in your quest to "discover" the true meaning of . . . Poetry . . .

very beautifully done, I really enjoyed this...

Words like what you pen are glorious; I LOVE 'em ALL!! Very well written; brava, Katy-Bug!!

(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in America, Karen Lynn. :D X0X0X0X0

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours; may it be your best one EVER!!