two poems: mythologising the self

[kaberett]

When I tell you I am a monster
what I mean is

I do not think like you
I do not think like you expect me to.

Yes, I have claws and teeth
but I'm not the only one of whom that's true.

No--the difference is:
I am looking at you always slantwise
out of three--or four--or five eyes
my several selves considering
which ones to let you see.

[third couplet edited 2017-04-15]

Comments

[kaberett]

this isn't right, read in isolation from the story it's playing with; and some of that is because it reduces everyone else (and especially the reader) to a single dimension, which isn't at all what I am going for, but that is what I get for writing on the Tube. Which is the long way of saying -- please identify yourself with the speaker not the addressee, and expect it to get drastically reworked!

[raze]

*.*

I really like this, even if it isn't in its finalized form. Especially the last stanza. Seriously, great.

[silveradept]

I find it works quite well the way it is. That may be because I know others who identify as monsters, and would find that perspective true to their own. And that there is a fundamental change of viewpoint when you're not the monster, because the monster considers you the alien.

I like the poem and here is what it made me think of

[alexseanchai]

Junot Diaz. Monsters don't have reflections. The way to make people monsters is to deny them at the cultural level any reflection of themselves. Or some such thing.

[vass]

Ooh. I like this a lot.

[haleskarth]

I rather like this as it is, even if it is still considered a draft, and I can relate to it rather strongly.

[pretty_panther]

I think this is beautiful. I did identify with the speaker. It struck a chord with me :)

[crazyscot]

<3

[shehasathree]

omfg.
*clings to this poem*

[redsixwing]

I linked in from silveradept's roundup.

This is a lovely poem, and yes, right away I identify with the speaker, not the audience.

The middle two stanzas are perfect. <3