Saturday, July 25, 2020

Arlene Corwin writes

Words & Marriage II
Word Paralysis: Stunted Growth

Couples do it all the time:
Talk in phrases long cliched by platitude,
Stalled and staled attitude.
They don’t communicate
(except perhaps when fornicating).
Do not learn, the phrases all the same,
Repeated at each meal, each film.
Reprised like some old pale rhythm.

They’re missing out on IQ-raising inspiration,
Real communication
Worn or lost in years or habit:
Customary words inadequate.

They learn to neither listen 
Nor to pay attention,
Stopping up their listening ears
Through years of word paralysis.

Sometimes deafness very real
Strikes one or the other mate.
There goes all conversation’s skill
Communication standing still,
Or worse, traveling at speed downhill.

What to do?
What the solution?
Marriage as a dance for two
Goes falling through
Through simple lack of word renewal.

Who wants boredom,
Wants to snore when loved one speaks?
Love goes sneaking out the door
When words no longer stir or spur.

1 comment:

  1. "Writing everyday, as I do, I really do write down any thought that catches me. It's all a kind of etude: a study, a learning process. Themes differing, but always a Corwin thread underlying, it seems to me everything I compose has validity, both artistically and philosophically.

    Words & Marriage
    Word Paralysis: Stunted Growth

    Couples do it all the time:
    Talk in phrases long cliched by platitude,
    Of staled attitude.
    They don’t communicate
    (except perhaps when fornicating).
    Don’t learn,
    The phrases all the same,
    Repeated at each meal, each film.

    They’re missing out
    On IQ raising inspiration,
    Real communication
    Worn or lost in years or habit:
    Customary words inadequate.

    They learn to neither listen
    Nor to pay attention,
    Stopping up their listening ears
    Through years of word paralysis.

    Sometimes deafness very real
    Strikes one to the other mate.
    There goes the skill of conversation,
    Life’s love communication.

    What to do?
    What the solution?
    Partnership and marriage
    As a dance for two
    Goes falling through.
    Through simple lack of word renewal.

    Who wants boredom,
    Wants to snore when loved one speaks?
    Love goes sneaking out the door
    When words no longer stir or spur.

    ReplyDelete

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