Imagining the Reading as Effacement
The ear and eye combine
to give the tongue and larynx
their sound
in the small room
with many empty chairs.
What the spaces say
can be heard in the short
and longer silences
and throaty inspirations
that voice the soft vowels
and brushed or chiseled consonants.
There ought to be a screen
to show the scatter patterns
light and dark
on the wall
with the voice and face
at the back of the room
heard only
as the words burn themselves
or not
across assembled retinas
with the mouth itself
a heard but unseen servant
offstage.
to give the tongue and larynx
their sound
in the small room
with many empty chairs.
What the spaces say
can be heard in the short
and longer silences
and throaty inspirations
that voice the soft vowels
and brushed or chiseled consonants.
There ought to be a screen
to show the scatter patterns
light and dark
on the wall
with the voice and face
at the back of the room
heard only
as the words burn themselves
or not
across assembled retinas
with the mouth itself
a heard but unseen servant
offstage.
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Author's Note
Poem as object, not performance.
Other stories by Gary Hardaway
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You have something here. New form of poetry slam, with the reader in shadows. I watched Auden read at the U. of Wis. many years ago. Thrilling, of course, but the reading stunk. *
Fascinating deconstruction.*
"There ought to be a screen
to show the scatter patterns
light and dark
on the wall
with the voice and face
at the back of the room"
Oh yes. Good writing, Gary.
Thank you, Matt.
Thank you, Amanda.
Thank you, Sam.
Interesting imagining.*
And for stories, too. *
Lovely poem. I read it and thought of Beckett - not sure how accurate that is, but it still took me away.
Thank you,Neil.