well
what I try to do
is to surprise
you
you are the who
and you are the why
for me
he is speaking
giving a little talk
to the Appreciation Society
but
when I consider
the what
and the how
that might allow me
to craft your surprise
I am
at a loss
for I do not know you
and likely
never will
the hall
is completely silent
no shushering movement
of squirmed discomfort
or late arrivals
no coughing
to drown out
the speaker’s key points
and so I find
that I must write
in a way
that lets my story
tell itself
while I influence
only marginally
the direction and the fluency
but leave substance
to its own device
when my work is done
the piece
is written
and I can look at it
as though new
the audience
attends closely
as he approaches
a finale
and I find
that it is I
myself
who is the first
to be surprised
and if it surprises
even me
who wrote it
then surely
surely
it will also
surprise you
thank you
in one clean movement
the audience
rose
from his seat
applauded politely
turned and
stumbling slightly
made his way out of the hall
and into the adjoining kitchenette
and small reception room
for a cup of tea and
amazingly
a piece of lamington sponge cake
still in its packet
unopened
~
Poem #403 from a series of poems drawn from the imagination and collected as: a Bachelard reverie.
Back to Bachelard and me – Introduction
your poetry is like tuning into a favorite radio channel, always a pleasant surprise
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Msjadeli thank you. I am touched by your comment.
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Sounds like the sort of crowd I would get if I gave a talk.
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They all just want to get to the lamingtons, mick.
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