April 2018
I was born and raised in Portsmouth, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in the first class admitting women. After 30+ years in Kansas City, I still miss the ocean, but love the writing community I’ve found through The Writers Place. To see my books and sample poems, please visit me at www.alariepoet.com. Verse-Virtual was recommended to me by another poet, but it’s been long enough that I’m not sure who suggested I try to join. I’m very glad I did!
Poetry 101
Let’s jump right into this. Please
take out some paper and write
a jellyfish.
You mean a poem? asks Ms. Front
of the Class. No, I never confuse
a jellyfish with a poem. Do you?
I mean make me see, feel, want
to be a jellyfish. Say I’m an alien
from Planet Xanax
or someone who’s always lived
in the mountains of Tibet. Introduce
me to your jellyfish.
Maybe you can tell me why it’s easy
to tell a jellyfish from a poem –
or why is that hard?
Because you can see through
a jellyfish to what lies behind it,
suggests Mr. Loves to Talk. Like
in a poem, he adds. They move
like they were spilled into the ocean,
suggests another guy in the back.
Ms. Worried says, I’ve never seen
a jellyfish. You’re lucky, I say.
You can write the confessions
of an imaginary jellyfish. While talking,
my eyes go to the girl in the red cashmere
sweater and the guy who just rolled
out of bed. Both are writing furiously,
already out to deep sea,
not looking back.
“Poetry 101” was first published by Wild Goose Poetry Review (Fall 2017).
© 2018 Alarie Tennille
© 2018 Alarie Tennille
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