Awkward Not Balanced.
Can I tell you my dream, she says,
when talk turns to flowers.
What I really like
is a bouquet,
with one long sprig off to the side.
Awkward not balanced.
I like my poems like that too:
eye-catching,
with fascist suns,
ladies with tachycardic eyes,
a girl with incarnadine hair,
poems with flourish,
quirk
like Tintin’s quiff.
- pic courtesy of pinterest
John Malone 
These are a few of my favourite things too 🙂
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yes, the symmetrical, certainly but the slightly askew has its appeal —
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Maybe we like the symmetrical for functional things like doors and toilets, but the asymmetric for decorative things.
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yes ! yes! yes! that makes a whole lotta sense; there’s the rococo style in architecture and furniture that reflects that ‘truth’ —
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Yes, I’m all about the odd, not even
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that’s what keeps your poets interesting, Beth 🙂
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Oh, I wish my poems could have the lovely asymmetry and feel confident of themselves. Love the rich vocabulary of the final few sprigs, dear friend. Your word bouquet arrangements always delight and surprise.
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thanks K; a mash up of some lines from a magazine article on Hilary Duff and some lines from my more skew-whiff poems 🙂
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You think it’s a labrador, then discover it’s half dyed blue and then there’s an odd word (like tachycardic) and that adds a little sprig of shimmer to the waving tail.
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thanks Worms: some words you full in love with for their sounds and suggestiveness — and you fit a poem around them 🙂
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Or it could be said more simply: that you like a squiff quiff. 🤣
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Lol
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Fantastic. Awkward not balanced…is perfect. I love poems like this. Like you wrote,
poems with flourish,
quirk
like Tintin’s quiff.
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thanks s[o much, Bob 🙂
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I dunno… I see a rather fine balance in that awkward arrangement… or perhaps a fine, teetering arrangement? In any case, a rather perfect bouquet. Ikebana.
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thank you; I looked up ‘ikebana’; that’s something I could really get into ; I love your phrase: ‘a fine, teetering arrangement’ —
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There’s something comforting about awkward. And balanced can be quite boring. No creativity there. Really nice one, John. 🙂
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thanks Terveen 🙂 yes, balanced and harmonious can be quite boring —
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Love this poem but I must admit I had to read several times. I was overwhelmed with the picture of my childhood hero TinTin. I remember the long hours spent in the public library waiting for my turn to read the latest album. Once I read through Tolstoj’s War and Peace waiting.
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thanks Ulle; I’m a Tintin fan too; I came to him late, ten years or more after the last one came out so had no trouble; worked my way through the back catalogue —
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A great story teller Herge. My favourite character is captain Haddock, hence the name Ulle Haddock 🙂
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hahaha; it’s a great name, Ulle 🙂
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Thanks for sharing this idea. Anita
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much appreciated, ANIta; my goal is to write a poem as stunning as your Ice Birds post ! still my fav foto of the year so far 🙂
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I’m associated with awkward! It just fits! I don’t mind things unbalanced and different! Take care, my friend. Great post and perspective!
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thanks Karla; a little skew whiff is fine by me 🙂
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My pleasure, John! Stay safe my friend! It’s always good to “see” you! 😊
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thanks Karla; same to you; it’s a strange and sometimes disconcerting journey we’re on but we’re not alone; others, including the good Lord, are there for us —
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Great words, John! Yes! 😊
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I think it’s okay to write poetically about our afflictions, even in a light-hearted amusing way; it lightens the load 🙂
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I agree, John! Some days are harder, but when I can stay a bit more lighthearted it does help! I try to keep pity parties to myself (and short!). I’m still human but humor helps! 😊
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Art that is a little off balance keeps it interesting. 😀
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