14 Comments
User's avatar
Antonio Castellaneta's avatar

“Listening to couples barter their secrets” stayed with me. A line that feels light at first and then keeps unfolding.

Joe's avatar

Thank you, Antonio. Glad to have you as a reader.

Charlotte Balladine's avatar

Beautiful work! Really loved your command of form 👏

Joe's avatar

Thank you! This compliment means a lot coming from you.

What is it?'s avatar

Delightful!

Ray Sweatman's avatar

With the vagueness of the 'we', I think it's open to many interpretations. Cool imagery as always. 'The rich have got their cameras in the bedrooms of the poor.' Leonard Cohen

Joe's avatar
Jun 6Edited

Great quote. I would love to take your contemporary poetry seminar, if you were ever to teach one. And yes, I think “we” are ever the question.

Meditations On Permafrost's avatar

This is a stunning piece, I think the first stanza is an allusion to Troy or a city before destruction, which so sets the mood. As does the wife asleep at the loom, waiting for love (which is a beautiful image).

I believe love does still exist, but like this poem, I think it is in peril.

Your last lines are Ozymandias. It is a wonderful poem.

Joe's avatar

Thank you for this generous reading, James. I was hoping you would enjoy it.

Rhea's Work's avatar

Ah, how small we are in the face of the earth's magnificence while Penelope weaves and un-weaves and the government interrupts!

Welp. That's what I'm thinkin' anyway.

Joe's avatar
Jun 6Edited

Interrupting, I

am interrupted by you.

We govern ourselves.

Rhea's Work's avatar

I do beg your pardon.