Poem: Am I lovely? Of course!

Posted byShannon LawsPosted inMadrona GroveTags:, , , , , , ,

 A poem by Vera Pavlova

(translated by Steven Seymour)

Am I lovely? Of course!
Breathlessly I taste
the subtle compliment
of a handmade caress.
Chop me into tiny bits,
caress and tame my soul,
that godly swallow
you love to no end.
***
Vera wrote,
“poetry is like earthworms, thought is like cud,
and understanding is like insanity”

My thoughts are everywhere today.
In 7th grade science class our teacher took a block of wood and placed it on the front table.  He then told us, “Everything is made up of molecules.  Everything. The only reason why the molecules of this block do not merge with the molecules of the desk is because they are moving super slow.”  He went on to say that if two objects touch long enough, they would merge.  It may take a million years, but they will merge.

Chemistry is the branch of science that studies matter that interacts quickly with other matter, and changes two substances, that form new substances.  Chemicals move faster than a block of wood set upon a teacher’s desk.

I must consider the bonding of people, substances, the substance of humans, parts that move slow and others fast, blood and water, our solid bones and muscles, and the abstract of thoughts and dreams.

Does a relationship make it to the level of atom?

To learn more about Vera, go to her website:

Published by Shannon Laws

Shannon Laws is an award-winning poet, performer, and advocate for the arts. She has been recognized with two Mayor’s Arts Awards and the Dr. Asha Bhargava Memorial Award — Community Champion. Her work has been featured in numerous journals and anthologies, and she has captivated audiences at esteemed literary events, including the Jack McCarthy Evergreen Invitational Slam, SpeakEasy, Poetry Night, Kitchen Sessions, and the West Coast Tagore Festival. Beyond her writing and performances, Shannon actively fosters literary and artistic communities. Since 2022, she has curated Corridor, a monthly “found-art” zine project that showcases the work of more than 50 contributing poets and artists. She is also the founder and host of Poetry Club, an engaging discussion group established in 2015.

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