04-22-2025, 10:31 PM
(04-22-2025, 08:34 PM)poetry_zealot Wrote: “am i beautiful?” “no”I like the idea of quotation marks demarking the speaker. For me when they sit in the same line it feels like the two figures are quickly responding while if the quotation marks start in the next line we have a pause between speakers. The duality, the contradiction is nice, I like that. I think this kind of form could have potential, might need another try on another piece or perhaps even many dozens more until it matures. I think the play with the quotation marks can wield some interesting results and I'd definitely would read another. It jars, makes you stop, makes you think, you slow down the reading process. Just what a (in my own opinion) good poem should.
“but they praise my
wonderful wings—” “and
avert your myriad eyes”
“i bring warmth, love,” “hate
fear sadness as well” “what about
my devotion? it soars beyond the sky”
“yet ultimately arrives to hell” “then,
what about you? are you beautiful?”
“yes” “they abhor you though.” “of course
I am made of bone” “whereas i share their skin,
their hopes, their secrets.” “that is your evil"
evil” “... i don’t understand.”
“you can not” / line-break
“so…
am I beautiful?” “no.”
Structure Inspiration: Tower of Babel by Wislawa Szymborska
This is my first time writing like this, so feedback is most definitely necessary.

