Leave it to me to go on vacation and consequently miss an email about a poem being selected for publication! I just learned TODAY (even though I got the email a month ago) that my poem, “Coming to Terms” has been selected for inclusion in the upcoming anthology, Trigger Warning: Poetry Saved My Life, being edited by slam poet Zachary Kluckman.
I’m thrilled to be part of this important book, which is due out late August-early Sept. And I’m also excited for Zach for another reason…He has been nominated for 2 National Poetry Awards – Slam Artist of the Year and Slam Organizer of the Year – and has been asked to be a Featured Performer at this event next month.
So today, I thought I’d share something a little more mature. This is a poem I wrote about 3 years ago based on a poetry prompt about flying. Because I often find that my creativity flows when I take contrary or unlikely perspectives, it makes sense that this is more about not flying than it is about flying!
(Then again, it’s completely about flying. It’s all a matter of how you look at it!)
And as always, there’s a lot more to Poetry Friday – Linda Kulp has the complete Roundup today at Write Time!
I Never Wanted to Fly
I never wanted to fly;
height never seduced me.
Soaring above trees and planes,
only Heaven above,
seemed careless
reckless
abandonment of the firmness of ground –
foolishness, it was.
I never wanted to fly;
flight never enticed me.
I had no need of grace and speed,
beauty of motion,
no higher calling;
the effort fruitless
as a dead Macintosh.
I embraced
gravity,
…..density,
……….security;
refusing capricious aspirations
a life time
and time again, and now
bound to earth
eternally
I wonder
why
I never wanted to fly.
– © 2011, Matt Forrest Esenwine
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Added at 3:53 PM EDST:
This is for you, Margaret! Thanks for stopping by!
https://soundcloud.com/mattforrestvoiceworks/i-never-wanted-to-fly-matt-forrest-7-11-14
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Very nice.
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Love this, Matt! And congratulations!
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Please record this! I want to hear your voice, even though I can imagine it. Love the rhythm. Congratulations!
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Lovely poem, Matt! Especially like “the effort fruitless/as a dead Macintosh.” You are seriously on an anthology acceptance roll– congrats to you!!!
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Matt — congratulations on your big news. Zach is an amazing community activist for poetry. Your poem may regret having its feet on the ground, but your work is certainly taking flight!
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Congratulations, what a summer of poetry you are having, Matt! I love this, but to me it’s sad. The poem has such a strong voice. That “I embraced
gravity,
…..density,
……….security; I know a few people like that!
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Congratulations on the publication.
I know this feeling, this sense of not wanting to fly as if security, stability and gravity mattered more. I remember reflecting on the fear of flying of having to decide to cut my wings.
Thanks for sharing this poem. It is beautiful at the same time thought provoking.
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Congratulations, Matt! You’re on fire with all your publication news. : ) Love your poem too. (This is the second time I’ve tried to comment, so you may end up with two!)
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Masterful mood and tone here, Matt. Congratulations!
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best thing i’ve read of yours. SALUD!!!
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Bittersweet/melancholy poetry is my favorite–this is wonderful. The ending feels inevitable, one of those hard life lessons…
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Thank you all so much for your comments, it’s greatly appreciated! And Margaret, I hope the recording meets your expectations! 😉
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Thanks for adding the voice. I hear in your voice the wistful wishfulness. (say that three times fast)
I have been seeing more performance poetry and I imagined it more as a beat poem, snarky, not wistful. I’m glad you added this dimension for my deeper understanding. I think poetry is meant to be read aloud.
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Matt, I enjoyed your poem but especially liked the flow of this,
“I embraced
gravity,
density,
security;
refusing capricious aspirations”
Congratulations on your accomplishments!
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wonderful reading and wonderful poem I,’v all love to love to see birds flying and wish I could fly like the do
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Thanks so much, everyone! I wish I could respond to every comment, but I’ve been crazy-busy with the 2 kids today, running errands and such, But I do appreciate your kind words.
And Margaret, I tend to be more wistful than snarky in real life, so I suppose that’s why the poem came out that way!
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Congratulations!
Love this poem. Those last three lines are killer!!
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I’m glad you liked it, Mary Lee – thanks!
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Love the poem, too – and the recording was a wonderful addition.
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Thanks, Tara!
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Yay for your publication news!! Congratulations, and thank you for sharing this sky-high poem. Keep ’em coming!
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Will do, Irene…thanks!
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