poemranker ::Our New Tongue by Christof

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Free verse № 10077

Our New Tongue

by Christof

Member since 2002 · Posted 20 Aug 2002 · 12 comments

How quickly I fall back on easy ways With you, whom I have spent ten months Hating - a strong word, yes, but How else to name what once was love? I have woken each of three hundred days The mask of your face on my face And now when the telephone rings I pick up the husk of your voice. Yes, since you ask, I have been amazed At how time's flown. My brothers are fine. The Ancient of Days still hangs From the spindly frame you knocked up once. And yes, I have seen the firework displays Like last year's - no, I took a friend. Yes, since you ask, she was Female. No, since you ask, we have not. I remember I laughed through the Mystery Plays With you, those Middle Age words meaning nothing, Those oaths of faith and love Were absurd in our tongue, our new tongue.

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mean 5.94 weighted 5.83 rank 1630 views 288 View voting details →

17 votes so far. Yours would make 18.17 votes so far

A favorite of god'swife.

12 comments

[9] <~> 20-Aug-02/8:04 AM Reply
even more absurd, in hindsight. but, oh, to revisit, even for a moment, the halcyon, when those oaths were one's lifeblood...
[7] poetandknowit 20-Aug-02/11:24 AM Reply
Quite the good poem. The repetition works well, but I think the second stanza is calling out for a bit of work.
[8] Venus 20-Aug-02/11:51 AM Reply
Maybe best not to answer those calls. I know, easier said than done. Nice work. 8/10
[10] god'swife 13-Sep-02/8:42 AM Reply
Excellent. Hadn't read this before. "Oaths of faith and love" Please work on writing a new contract for all the girls and boys. I love stanza 4, awkward and sad without being awkward and sad. Is she married?
[n/a] Christof › god'swife 18-Sep-02/6:21 AM Reply
No she's not... do you think that because of the oaths? because they were strictly non-legal personal oaths. Always be wary of getting the local Registrar involved, that's what I say.
[7] searching 25-Sep-02/1:23 PM Reply
I perceive sadness and yet like your reference to "absurd" - very philosophical!
[9] daniella 19-Oct-02/10:30 PM Reply
you too know of love lost and lament. the heart beats heartier every time as the light of love dims.... be not afraid of offering another lick.
[8] Tintagiles 23-Oct-02/6:20 AM Reply
'The husk of your voice' is wonderful. I rather like this.
[n/a] Christof › Tintagiles 23-Oct-02/6:23 AM Reply
Why thank you. This is the oldest thing I have on poemranker, and so it's very gratifying when people like it.
[10] god'swife 8-Nov-02/1:36 AM Reply
I should have given this a ten. So I will.
[n/a] Christof › god'swife 8-Nov-02/1:39 AM Reply
Why thank you. It's nice to see old stuff revisited, and this one in particular means a lot to me. It was something of an exorcism.
[8] horus8 16-Jun-03/2:49 PM Reply
This children is Christof, he is poet, where and when you newbies are not, reap it!

This poem, by the way Christ (if I may use diminutives) is just splendid, have an 8, i actually think it deserves a nine, but since you are an exceptional poet. I can't honestly read all of your poems and give them what they deserve, because then, I believe, I would just be knocking myself out of the top fifteen, and since everyone hates me, it would be impossible to recover my standings, forgive me oh dead composer.