Posts: 21
Threads: 6
Joined: Apr 2025
they are where
language limps
and still chooses to walk.
they are
the trace of breath
catching
on the jagged edge
of trying.
they come
from the fracture
between thought and form—
between the word you meant
and the one that arrived
bruised,
almost right.
they are
topography
of emotion unmastered—
the syntax of rupture,
the grammar of ache,
the rhythm of resistance.
they represent
what doesn’t fit
but insists
on being
rendered anyway.
so i break
the line
like a promise,
like a breath too heavy to carry in one mouthful—
not because it’s over,
but because
it continues.
elsewhere.
always.
Posts: 36
Threads: 13
Joined: Mar 2025
(04-17-2025, 08:07 AM)The_system_screams Wrote: they are where
language limps
and still chooses to walk. I think you can push this line back a bit to make the structure actually stumble like the limp you said in the previous line.
they are
the trace of breath Same thing here, this could be moved back just a tiny bit so the two lines overlap just a bit so the reader gets a trace of the next line.
catching
on the jagged edge
of trying. This works beautifully. Well done.
they come
from the fracture
between thought and form— You could perhaps space out thought and form on the same line to actually fracture them.
between the word you meant
and the one that arrived
bruised,
almost right. Spacing between these last two lines could be a masterclass. Well done.
they are
the topography
of emotion, unmastered—
the syntax of rupture,
----------------------------------------------------->the grammar of ache,
the rhythm of resistance.
they represent
what doesn’t fit
but insists
on being
rendered anyway. Just beautiful the way you organized these last three lines. The way it slowly breaks out from the 2nd line of this stanza is wonderful.
so i break
the line
like a promise,
like a breath too heavy to carry in one mouthful— What's highlighted in red is not necessary and kind of makes the line slightly clunky to read.
not because it’s over,
----->but because
------------->it continues. Don't be afraid to emphasize the spacing when it should matter.
elsewhere.
always. You can separate the last two lines of your poem. It emphasizes the "elsewhere" in your penultimate line and gives the poem space that the reader can fill.
As always, your poems are a pleasure to read and annotate and your unique structure never fails to impress. Your command of space has become more intricate and refined in this piece and it shows. Personally, I think you're being somewhat reserved with the space you're given. Don't be afraid to leave blank space in the middle of the poem, if done well, it tells more, if done wrong, it teaches. Feel free to experiment with your spacing more. And as always, I look forward to your future pieces.
Posts: 21
Threads: 6
Joined: Apr 2025
Thank you for your wonderful and constructive criticism poetry_zealot, always eye opening and always hits where it needs to. Thank you, I'll take it to heart and try to push the spaces even more where warranted.