06 June 2005

Love Is Poetic

"It's all fiction, but the same could be said for "real-life" romances, which are themselves poetic constructs."—Kasey Mohammad from his blog {lime tree}, 29 May 2005.

What a concept. Many people associate poetry with the language of lovers, or many others equate poetry with mush...that is, romance vs. love, the idea of limmerance.

Limmerance is the initial giddiness that comes with "falling" for someone. It's been the inspiration for many a budding relationship. I think Kasey is correct in referring to "real-life" romances as poetic constructs; lovers take care to present themselves in the most desirable way, blooming red roses of affection. Nose hairs trimmed. Seductive clothes spotless. Smile stretched permanent.

Fortunately, the flower withers and joins the soil where it truly contributes to growth. It's dirty. It's messy. But, it's nourishing. Dried flowers that never fall to the soil wither, crumble, and blow to the wind.

6 comments:

Southern Oregon Animal Sanctuary said...

Of course Kasey sees love as poetry. He's a poet, and he loves poetry. He's got it all conflated.

As a writer who is concerned with issues of the body, I highly recommend Philosophy in the Flesh, by Lakoff and Johnson. Gholson used is as a textbook in rhetoric this term. Among other interesting ideas, they get into why the human brain resorts to metaphors (i.e. love is like poetry) to describe our world. It was a facinating, eye-opening book. Like, I have a copy you can like borrow for as long as you like.

Kyle Stich said...

Like cool, man, like I'll be stopping by to see what they essays are like.

Adam said...

When I think of romance I don't define it in terms of the rituals of flattery and expressions of feeling, but rather the underlying sentiment they are representing--what it is that separates romantic relationships from platonic ones. However, I'd agree with Kasey that the mechanics of romance--the flowers, the whispered sweet nothings, the chocolates, and the severed left ears--are poetic constructs.

Perhaps I just need more people to attempt to explain to me that "the message is the medium."

Kyle Stich said...

Heya Adam,great to hear from you. "The message is the medium"? I'm going to have to add that to my book of quotes. Did you get it from someone else, or can I list you as the source?

Adam said...

Woop! I just realized I transposed the quote. It should read: "The medium is the message" which is by Marshall McLuhan.

Anonymous said...

For me, I think that poetry is not only "real-life" love, but the day-to-day mundane. It is messy, but the mess is what makes it interesting. It is the love for the mundane that becomes the poem. When we don't take the care to present ourselves in a specific light does a clear "poetic" moment come through onto the page.

Shannon