Benko's Gambit

Wow! Your poetry is incredible! This is a very impressive piece. From first line to last it packs a punch. There are many interesting twists and wordplays that I liked. Well done! I read it twice but I will come back later for more as I know there is more to absorb here. I really like your style of writing. Good work!

*****

Amazing.

Five.

*

Do you know I've been under serious pressure to actually write something that is either helpful, insightful or some bullshit. So here goes:
The correct line is: "Short people got no reason", this however had no impact on my enjoyment of the poem, which was immense enough to give you a five.

A heartwrencher

for me anyway because I understand this at some primal level having lived my own version of it.

I love that you begin with a gratitude you later question, the way the poem carefully picks its way inward to a view so intimate and just real feeling that you have to relate to it. And the heart of the poem, which falls physically in the middle of it (which you even tell us!) is perfect:

"honestly in the middle of it all sometimes I just
want to be gone, to be clean, to grow fingernails
and walk at my own pace. I want to sew my
own shadow I want to sacrifice the pawn and
read in the passenger seat."

I read it and thought, well me too honey. I want to sew my own shadow and grow my nails and ride in the passanger seat--and sometimes I do but not nearly enough.

Love the ending. There's something both strong and fragile in it.

Oh and the title is perfect, too.

I would tell you these days pass all too quickly but it's meaningless when you're in the thick of it.

A 2nd Run

I came back again to reread your poem a few more times. The meaning is becoming more clear each time but even if I don't get it down completely it is a joy to read. Thank you for posting it.

a humbling poem

its honesty grabs me by the scruff of the neck and makes me count my own blessings. wonderful writing that touches the heart no problem, so much more than head poetry. you give us emotion, passion, the drag of physical as well as mental exhaustion... the duality of a mourning as well as a counting of the blessings. good to see you submitting, under whichever name.

~

Nobody on here can write these sort of poems like you can, that give such an emotional bittersweet rush to the senses

!!!

This is so classy.I have nothing useful to add to above comments. Second 6 today.

I love the stream of consciousness in this, moving in different directions, but not really.

TO WONDER HOW FAMILIES EVOLVE

and looking for rhyme and reason, TK U MLJ LV NV