Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Making Me

By Joseph Hesch

It’s so strong this
whatever it is I feel
but choose not to name.
I’ve learned to accept it’s there,
a part of me like my skin
and the blood going in and out of
my scarred and stiffened heart.
For the first time in my life,
I didn’t try to know the why
or how of something.
I don’t categorize, analyze,
or even adverbize it.
It makes me sad and
it makes me glad and
I don’t mean to rhyme
but this is my poetic confession
so you’ll just have to let me slide.
But most of all, this feeling,
this thing you don’t even know
you pour over me,
most of all it makes me
me.


I have been remiss in my duties in not letting you know that this poem was posted as one of almost 150 poems for dVerse Poets Pub's Open Link Night. In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm proud to be one of the poets who hosts this weekly get-together.  My favorite part of running the poetry bar? Hitting the siren when I get tips!
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25 comments:

  1. Brian MillerAugust 30, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    this is a beautiful confession...feels like something you can not quite put your finger on but you know you feel it...great piece joe...

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  2. ClaudiaAugust 30, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    yes it does...and you are wonderful..great piece joe

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  3. Mark KerstetterAugust 30, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    The part about rhyming thrown into this makes me smile, and puts me in mind of a song by Captain Beefheart; the lyric is basically just: 'You know you're a man at about the same time she knows she's a woman.'

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  4. ScarletAugust 30, 2011 at 1:08 PM

    I like how you captured that vagueness and indescribable feeling of "me".

    Like these lines:
    But most of all, this feeling,
    this thing you don’t even know
    you pour over me,
    most of all it makes me
    me.

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  5. Pat HattAugust 30, 2011 at 1:45 PM

    haha oh the rhyme works well meant to or not (which you know I'd like..haha) and what a confession it was. Does seem like that feeling one gets when the answer is right on their tongue but they just can't think of it.

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  6. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    Such a lovely piece, reminds me of an passionate soliloquy, desperate for recognition but only silently screaming out. Great write Joe! Always appreciate your words. ~ Rose

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  7. Jannie FunsterAugust 30, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Feelings, nothing more than feelings...

    Long may we feel, us poet-types!

    Adverbtize -- B. Dylan would for sure smile at that.

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  8. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    "most of all it makes me
    me." Nice expression of the writer's voice.

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  9. UnknownAugust 30, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    the things we accept about ourselves that we're not quite sure of, but still embrace it, is what makes us beautiful. great write Joe!

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  10. TashtooAugust 30, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    There's not much that I have enjoyed on this journey more than watching you make you... I am so honored to have watched you take back your you in the form of pen and poetry...there's power in them there lines my friend...each and everyone a testament to YOU! Own it, dear Joe...the journey is far from done! Happy OpenLinkNight! And thanks for making you :)

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  11. Ann LeFloreAugust 30, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    This piece is very inspiring and so well written I enjoyed reading it so much

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  12. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    Hi Joesph I am pleased to meet you. Is this a realization, or more like a non-recognition of a feeling for someone, some one that belongs there, who feels right there, who makes you feel all the good and bad things that you feel, and that without this person in your life you wouldn't be who you are? And you don't want to recognize it, you don't want to focus on that aspect of the relationship, you don't want to name it, you don't need to let that brush define the relationship, but that you do want to say to this person "Hey, you know I wouldn't be me without you".....? Because that's where this poem just took me. And the emotion in that overpowers me. It's like when you first start realizing that hey, this is serious and I don't want serious. I just want us. Serious has like a 50/50 survival rate and I don't need that conformist crap. What I need is him, or her in my life and that's it. And that's like a crossroad Joe, and I think it is the most incredibly wonderful thing that can happen to us. Falling in love I mean. And with that said, God, I hope I didn't misread your poem. For all I know you might have written this as an ode to a worm just before you stuck him on a hook and plunked him into Lake Erie. I've been wrong before, but now age and each passing year allows me to be a bit less embarrassed by that particular trait of mine. I'm John, by the way, and I hope if you have a free moment you will visit my blog. I really like your poem. Been there.

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  13. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 2:16 AM

    Simply gorgeous - long live the inner poet

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  14. UnknownAugust 31, 2011 at 2:45 AM

    So this whole thing made me smile, especially,

    "I don’t even categorize, analyze,
    or even adverbize it."

    Still smiling :)

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  15. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 4:28 AM

    There's always that mystery about ourselves, indescribable...but you described it! And you accept it and yourself in the measure. Thank you for sharing this interesting piece.

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  16. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    For the first time in my life,
    I didn’t try to know the why
    or how of something.
    I don’t even categorize, analyze,
    or even adverbize it.

    I thought that it could be spiritual, love, or the process and feeling of being a poet and enjoyed it all the more for it.

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  17. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    this spoke to me, it feels like the deep, hidden things in our heart that make us who we are...a brilliant write :)

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  18. AnonymousAugust 31, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    I love this! You made me chuckle with:

    I don’t mean to rhyme
    but this is my poetic confession
    so you’ll just have to let me slide.

    ~laurie

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  19. VictoriaAugust 31, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    Such a deep expression of feeling for a lucky someone, describing both sides of the emotion. My read was close to that of johnallenrichter. It must be an age thing. Enjoyed the conversational voice of this a lot.

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  20. SheilaAugust 31, 2011 at 4:56 PM

    nice reminder for me to ease up on being so analytical and pour a little more acceptance over my life instead. Enjoyed this, Joe, thanks.

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  21. signed...bkmAugust 31, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    You have some unique lines...and accepting of that poetic part of ourselves is so important...the words, the verbs...running through the mind...did not realize that so many do not see life through words...happy that we do....bkm

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  22. Other MarySeptember 1, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    It's always a treat to read your poetry. This is no exception. Love the word 'adverbize' you have created. Not naming, categorizing, but accepting - that's a gift.

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  23. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2011 at 1:51 PM

    I totally relate to this. Just being without the "but why am I this way".

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  24. ayalaSeptember 1, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    Joe, I love your words!!!!!!!!!!

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  25. GlynnSeptember 2, 2011 at 7:37 AM

    It may be a confession, but it's also a heartsong - and it speaks for a lot of us. Good poem.

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