This poem is about purple,
and teal,
and lemon meringue pie—
about sage green
and chicken, spatchcocked,
and grilled.
This poem is about wrapping myself
in a silk-slick black robe, disappearing into midnight,
being seen.
It’s about color—
and taste,
and smell,
and feel,
and things that just make sense
when they don’t.
Like when
and how quickly
we made ourselves one.
How it all could have been undone.
How we could have been
undone.
But contrast,
and tang,
and memory touch,
and savory savoring—
holding on
when it hurt so much—
saved us
from us.
© 2025 Jennifer Wagner
I love the sharp sensory verses, from color to tang and memory touch. That's the beauty of a love relationship, from being one to undoing to holding on - its living and thriving.
ReplyDeleteVery well done, Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteI love how the culmination of the poem clarifies the title.
ReplyDeleteIt's work but duration if it's more than tolerated means two I's becoming one Thou, partners in a long becoming. My wife and I celebrate 29 years next week and it's still a daily Yes or No. So much yet to learn about marinating all those contrasts.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we perhaps have to learn how to comfort ourselves - I especially love the image of lemon meringue pie - magic in the seemingly ordinary - Jae
ReplyDeleteI love how your poem appeals to all the senses, Jennifer, and all the colours. The lines that resonate with me are:
ReplyDelete‘This poem is about wrapping myself
in a silk-slick black robe, disappearing into midnight,
being seen’.
Oh, I love every single line of this, Jennifer, just gorgeous! You epitomise the flavour of a good poem but also exactly why we need poetry and - wait, I just have to read it again, what can I say! 💖
ReplyDeleteYour poem flowed beautifully with all the lovely colors added. The holding on is what makes the relationship stronger.
ReplyDeleteholding on
when it hurt so much—
Love all the senses of this, and maybe how all these stimuly maybe makes understend ourselves.
ReplyDelete