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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 

By Chance or Appointment - 8. Old Friends and Perfection

A pair of sonnets for this week. If you find errors or omissions, know that I made them on my own.

Old Friends

 

My dentist says my teeth are all adrift

like schoolboys on a summer afternoon

eternal in its golden, sunlit gift

for them to play the hero or buffoon;

he says that my incisors, one day soon

upon the ocean of my jaw must stray,

perforce to let soup dribble from my spoon

while those same children laugh at my dismay.

Let molars and bicuspids go their way

and make my mouth a sign of age a-creep,

our friendship cares not how the shadows play,

or worries at our changes ere we sleep.

So touch me now and learn of me anew,

no alteration lies twixt me and you.

 

 

Perfection

 

I wonder if it’s possible to be

embodied as perfection in a man

constructed to a well-proportioned plan

once drafted in the Greek academy

and born to illustrate elusive φ

as Leonardo drew in ink on tan

ideal dimensions of immortal span

for Michelangelo’s reality.

But I’m constructed with unnumbered flaws;

no golden ratio will I measure out

(my figure would give Archimedes pause

considering my curvature’s so stout);

I wish I’d garnered David’s loud applause

and not misshapen decades full of doubt.


My deepest thanks go to you, the reader of these lines. I'm grateful you took the time to take them in and try them out. If you have a comment or a thought about them to share, please do.
Copyright © 2022 Parker Owens; All Rights Reserved.
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Poetry posted in this category are works of fiction. Names, places, characters, events, and incidents are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons (living or dead), organizations, companies, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you. 
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Parker Owens
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18 minutes ago, pvtguy said:

I love this style of poetry.  That said, the imagery of Old Friends is  so vivid!  Loved it! And how I do resemble the real description left in Perfection.  Thanks once again for sharing your talent!

Thank you so much for reading these two sonnets. Old Friends is how I see changes in the mirror, but which I hope will turn out to mean less to those I haven’t seen in the past years. Perfection reminds me of the long dangers of setting up comparisons between oneself and unattainable ideals. Thanks again. 

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Parker Owens
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3 minutes ago, weinerdog said:

Perfection is a heck of a title to give something to live to it.But what I will say the more and more you do these the closer and closer you get to it

Thank you so very much for reading these! Leonardo and Michelangelo might have understood perfection and created that which is as close to it as we  might see. But we’re going to have to live with who we are, not some magazine ideal. 

Edited by Parker Owens
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Parker Owens
3 minutes ago, Mikiesboy said:

oh teeth .. yeah, let's not go there, but the poem is wonderful.

 

i like looking at men. David is wonderful to look at and admire. I can appreciate his beauty without wanting to be like him.  i am what i am and that's good enough.

 

Thanks Parker for being you!  

I’m with you: I like looking at men, too. For many years, I struggled with my imperfections. Only lately have I learned to think that I’m good enough. Thank you so much for your response, and for your encouraging words. 

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Headstall

Thanks for these, Parker. Both are brilliant in showing how we relate to ourselves (and also in the writing). If those who love us see 'perfection', it is more than enough. Life takes it's toll on our bodies, but fortunately we hold on to our ability to love, even if it takes longer to walk up the stairs. :)  

There is a danger to the quest for perfection... narcissism is a roadblock to love, and satisfaction will always be elusive. I accept who I am... and the journey which made the marks. Cheers!

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Parker Owens
16 minutes ago, Headstall said:

Thanks for these, Parker. Both are brilliant in showing how we relate to ourselves (and also in the writing). If those who love us see 'perfection', it is more than enough. Life takes it's toll on our bodies, but fortunately we hold on to our ability to love, even if it takes longer to walk up the stairs. :)  

There is a danger to the quest for perfection... narcissism is a roadblock to love, and satisfaction will always be elusive. I accept who I am... and the journey which made the marks. Cheers!

How long a journey I seem to have taken to self acceptance.  There have been many detours.  Life does indeed take its toll, as you say. You are most kind in your response, and I am very grateful that you read and thought about these.

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Parker Owens
1 hour ago, raven1 said:

These two poems were a delightful reflection of how I saw myself in the mirror throughout my life.  Nothing perfect and nothing wrong, just me.  I loved the playful images you created in my mind with these words!  Thanks for these poems!  😄

You’re most welcome. I’m grateful you took time to read these, and it’s wonderful that you enjoyed them. Thanks for the encouraging words. 

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Parker Owens
7 hours ago, northie said:

It can take many years to accept yourself, whether as you stand in front of the mirror or just contemplate who you think you are. Acceptance is powerful. In some ways, it can make or break your life, I'm glad you're in a good place, Archimedes' bafflement notwithstanding. 🤨😄😘

You’re absolutely right about it taking time. As for Archimedes, I expect his geometry is now very different to mine, as I am unquestionably non-planar - especially after today! Thanks so much for commenting on these, and for taking time on them. 

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Aditus

I like both sonnets, it's a favorite poetry form of mine and these two are beautiful.

Teeth--, I favour fangs as you know, be it vampires, wolves or even dragons.

Well, David,  for a time I was fascinated by the fact he is very accurate in certain details.

Anyway, perfection is somewhat boring, give me flaws to love and adore, to be unique.

Thank you for sharing these, Parker.

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Parker Owens

I'm glad you thought these two sonnets on some unlovely features were beautiful nonetheless. I favour fangs could be the first line of a poem, or perhaps the title of a short story. Your thought made me wonder if vampires or werewolves ever have to go to a dentist, and what such a person might encounter. David continues to be a source of fascination and admiration, for many of his details. I very much appreciate your thoughts and reactions to these two sonnets. Thank you very much for sharing them, and for reading.

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