"The Wordsworth Effect" by Joyce Sutphen

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

"The Wordsworth Effect"
by Joyce Sutphen

Is when you return to a place
and it's not nearly as amazing
as you once thought it was,

or when you remember how you felt
about something (or someone) but you know
you'll never feel that way again.

It's when you notice someone has turned
down the volume, and you realize
it was you; when you have the

suspicion that you've met the enemy
and you are it, or when you get
your best ideas from your sister's journal.

Is also-to be fair-the thing that enables
you to walk for miles and miles chanting to
yourself in iambic pentameter

and to travel through Europe with
only a clean shirt, a change of
underwear, a notebook and a pen.

And yes: is when you stretch out
on your couch and summon up ten thousand
daffodils, all dancing in the breeze.

Comments

[neukpuppy.livejournal.com]

Is "it" growing up?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

That's an interesting way of viewing the poem. I sort of interpreted it as the way other ideas get into our head and influence us in subtle but powerful ways, which I guess is a good part of how we grow up.

[subtlesword.livejournal.com]

The last stanza gave me chills--in a good way. Thank you for this.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

You're quite welcome. I felt the same way when I first read it.

[moireach.livejournal.com]

So good.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

I'm really glad you liked it. I really enjoy poems that are powerful but accessible. I think this one qualifies.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

You're welcome. I certainly enjoyed this poem - I will have to check out more of her work.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

Now there's a 'wow'.

Beautiful. Thank you.

[lemurstew.livejournal.com]

This makes me want to like Wordsworth far more than I actually do like him. And I like that.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

I do, too. It is an effective poem and I liked it so much when I first read it.

[appyella.livejournal.com]

wow.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

It definitely has the 'wow factor'. I'm glad you liked it.

[mspixieears.livejournal.com]

Not sure I agree with some of what she says, but she comes up with some very cool notions.