17 October 2006

Conversationally Speaking

I am always one that is interested in conversation, so long as it is not a one-sided conversation, then it becomes a monologue (for either party involved) and, unless you happen to be a great lecturer or public speaker, will end in boredom for one of the parties involved. I certainly have been on both ends of such conversation disasters, but nominally, it tends to be a rare thing, as I tend to be a conversational chameleon, moving from one conversation to the next with relative ease on a variety of subjects. This ability has served me well in the past, and it has caused some major issues too, but those are tales for another time.

I noticed when traveling abroad the variety and numbers of conversations I had. And, traveling alone and being an American, I tended to start a conversation with the random person in a hostel, on a beach, or most often, while traveling from point A to point B (but never from point B to point C... I refused as a point of pride, lol). What got me thinking was the nature and brevity of many of my conversations as I moved on to another destination, or those I spoke to either were moving on, annoyed with me, or were simply bored. I thought about what made me remember them and whether or not they would remember our words and time together. As a general rule, I suspect it was not the case. For my part, on my most recent trip, I remember dozens of snippets of dialogue, a few pertinent, memorable conversations, and one... one though so brief, I remember it as if I were still there. Five minutes, perhaps, but five minutes that set me thinking about this issue and later inspired me to write a rather stream of consciousness piece (and one of my few poems that does not capitalize at every line... one of my stranger quirks, but to me normally gives an even feel to a poem) that delves into the nature of our words and what we remember about them.

(incidentally, one thing I am doing is starting off with a cross-section of styles... which unfortunately means I will have to post a poem that rhymes soon... not my strong point at all)

'Quality of Conversation'

We speak exchanging pleasant
words and double meanings losing
steam at every nervous instant,
afraid to hear what we should
wondering if these voices are all we are
trapped in a space whose
walls confine yet cannot be contained.

A silent pause damnable tho'
welcome normal but hurtful,
momentum mired in what might
be a chance at deeper reflection
a connection incapable of emerging
strains the borders of our tension
sending the heart and soul into a pensive stall.

Opposing forces prey upon us
noisy frantic pulling all around
fragments of obligation call to our rest,
yet reasonable inherent possibility
will be partially shuffled low
as what remains of these thoughts
dissolve and scatter in the full light of day.

Time slips into the present...
hoping I can remember if you remember me.

C.

1 comment:

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