This poem is taken from PN Review 251, Volume 46 Number 3, January - February 2020.
The Feeling Sonnets
17.
This is my totter. This is my other totter.
They play at dress and redress.
They are princesses. They wear prints. They wear prints out.
Out of what. Out of line. Out to what. Out to tatters.
They, hey. Hey do they speak.
They speak a speak. They speak a speak of mines and takes.
They speak a speak of ekes and keeps. They speak a speak of rates and tears.
They speak a speak I speak of not speaking. Hey.
My totter totters across the room. My other totter totters across the room.
My two totters totter across the room. They take a stance.
They take a stance by happenstance.
Totter, I am tot to you. I am that, other.
Totter, I am tot to you. I am that, other.
I am that other to my totters.
19.
The word ‘daughter’ is an element of basic vocabulary.
Like the word ‘hair’. Like the word ‘eye’. Like the word ‘ear’.
First I saw the top of her head, then her head. She made a face.
...
This is my totter. This is my other totter.
They play at dress and redress.
They are princesses. They wear prints. They wear prints out.
Out of what. Out of line. Out to what. Out to tatters.
They, hey. Hey do they speak.
They speak a speak. They speak a speak of mines and takes.
They speak a speak of ekes and keeps. They speak a speak of rates and tears.
They speak a speak I speak of not speaking. Hey.
My totter totters across the room. My other totter totters across the room.
My two totters totter across the room. They take a stance.
They take a stance by happenstance.
Totter, I am tot to you. I am that, other.
Totter, I am tot to you. I am that, other.
I am that other to my totters.
19.
The word ‘daughter’ is an element of basic vocabulary.
Like the word ‘hair’. Like the word ‘eye’. Like the word ‘ear’.
First I saw the top of her head, then her head. She made a face.
...
The page you have requested is restricted to subscribers only. Please enter your username and password and click on 'Continue'.
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 286 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 286 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?