by Vinay Benjamin
Member since:
December 22, 2006

Perfect Poems

July 22, 2008 04:12 PM EDT
views: 122 | comments: 35

I dabble with words, have read masters
In this arena of lingua franca
Am convinced after years of pursuit
The perfect poem is yet unearthed
Have often been moved to dismal tears
No eulogy the wetness describes
Nor have words lent those wings
To soar from the finite to the infinite

An infant in the crib uncorrupted by words
Drooling reciprocates a smile
And mere touch sometimes heals in instants
Ageless misery that a heart abides
Perfect poems cannot be expressed
By rhetoric or phonetics
The ingenuity of sentiments defies
Tacit rules of any syntax

Words merely manage a conditioned reflex
A Pavlov experiment, testing response
Else the unknown, the unseen can't be fathomed
With most sanguine language as instrument
Since perfect poems exist in precincts
Outside the printed page
I saunter through feelings where they abound
Unfettered from needing accolade

 

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Comments: 35

Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 4:26pm EDT
(Luxuripus? Selene? English is not my mother tongue - thank you, dear friend. I'm gonna' look for the thesaurus after posting this. For the interim, from one word lover to another . . . .

P.S. You are ONE great, genuine human being - for which the world is a better place.

Regards,

Vinay
Lisa Frost Jul 22, 2008, 4:30pm EDT
Vinay,

As I wonder among these words of yours,
wondering what treasures they hide,
I cannot help but ponder and think
how much more you have yet to find!

I love to find all the wonder you unlock with each word you so lovingly place. Beautiful.

Li
Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 4:42pm EDT
Hi there Li you're my bastion on Gather. Thank you, yes, the journey in the land of words is terrific - someday, as my dad used to say the perfect poem could be penned.

Vinay
Chana M. Jul 22, 2008, 4:42pm EDT
Vinay, first try http://www.bartelby.com/ , its a wonderful site for definitions, quotes, thesaurus etc. I frequently use it. Second, if I get what you are saying, (and I think that I do) I am in full agreement. Words are such a feeble way to express things. Unfortunately, this is what we have so we must work with it. And your english is so much better than my (I don't know your native language, so I am just going to throw one out here) Hindu (Hindi?). Wonderful poem Vinay! Thank you for sharing this @ Post Art - Any Medium!
Lisa Frost Jul 22, 2008, 4:49pm EDT
Vinay,
Not only is your English better than my Hindi, it may be better than my English too! I know many who could use some lessons from you. LOL
Li
Cara D. Jul 22, 2008, 4:54pm EDT
That was great!
Sue * Jul 22, 2008, 4:58pm EDT
Isn't the joy in the quest of the perfect poem...what fun would it be if you actually found it?
Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 5:13pm EDT
Chana - you've got a big hug coming your way - in fact I've kept so mny hugs reserved for ALL of you - the next time in the US of A is gonna be a sentimental journey. Thank you and my language is this sentiment I share with you.

LOL

Vinay
Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 5:15pm EDT
Tutoring English Li? Thank you, I'm gonna ask you to enroll if I ever teach!!!

LOL

Vinay
Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 5:16pm EDT
Cara- you have a HUGE, HUGE heart. Thank you.

Vinay
Vinay Benjamin Jul 22, 2008, 5:17pm EDT
Sue my adorable friend, if I ever find that perfect poem - you'll be the FIRST to know. I adore you.

LOL

Vinay
John F Walter Jul 22, 2008, 6:30pm EDT
I like the way you interchange `perfect poems´with perfectly receptive moments of consciousness where everything comes together, the senses, the full perception, the human exchange, the feelings, that place where each one of us totally engages with the world for a complete experience, that becomes a perfect memory of who we are, of who we have been.
Bhawana 'Gather Proud Mom' Jul 22, 2008, 7:11pm EDT
Each word is in your soul, Vinay.You need not to use papers to create any marvels...You have the potentials to paint them in an open sky.This was a brilliant portrait.
Beryl Singleton Bissell Jul 22, 2008, 9:56pm EDT
Did you mean the perfect poem has "yet to be" unearthed? The image of the child "uncorrupted by words," is powerful. Words are just words. They might be luminous and melodic and beautifully crafted but in the end they are always subject to translation and rendered impure.
Heather ~of the Whippets~ M. Jul 23, 2008, 12:35am EDT
That was lovely.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 1:52am EDT
John dear friend, mentor - its a pleasure to have you comment on my writing after a long time. Thank you for a meaningful critique.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 1:53am EDT
Bhawana dear friend, you are very generous in your compliments. Thank you, for your presence.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 1:55am EDT
Beryl - thank you for pointing out that slip. I appreciate that am will amend it. Yes, I admit that words are not adequate - thank you, I am grateful for your critique.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 1:56am EDT
Reen - an artist such as you should not be bothered if poetry is not your league. You Are The Best . . . .

Thank you.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 1:56am EDT
Heather thank you, dear friend.
William Dotani Jul 23, 2008, 2:26am EDT
This is quite straightforward using the nature of a poem in how it relates to the varities and some would say the vulgarities of life in different stages and situation. You verse is extremely compact considering the ideas each line conjures up.
The last line seems somewhat a dismissal of the need for poetry. A poem is the raw emotion of words to touch, so in my opinion the poet is chained by his words in the context and feelings the reader receives them. However, it is nice rhyme.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 2:56pm EDT
William I'm touched by your descriptive critique. Thank you, for being supportive and at the same time helpful in letting me look at my own writing from another perspective. I agree, the last line does "suggest" a dismissal of for the need for poetry but once mankind reaches the stage of telepathic communications again, I believe the written word will become obsolete.

Thank you, kind sir. Your presence is very exhilerating.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 2:57pm EDT
Judi your constant encouragement, your compliments are an elixir of sorts. I'm grateful, thank you.
Missy Cline Jul 23, 2008, 4:24pm EDT
Absolutely wonderful job....I love it!
Vinay Benjamin Jul 23, 2008, 4:41pm EDT
Missy (you better stay out of the hospital) - thank you, for being so generous.
Sharon C. Jul 23, 2008, 6:49pm EDT
Absolutely Beautiful Vinay!!!!. I absolutely Love it!!!!!
Dan H. Jul 23, 2008, 10:38pm EDT
Thank You For Posting To:
http://friendsofdanh.gather.com.
Our goal is to help you further your exposure and to support other gather members.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 24, 2008, 1:41am EDT
Sahron - Thank you, I'm absolutely delighted.
Vinay Benjamin Jul 24, 2008, 1:42am EDT
Dan - I'm grateful. Thank you.
Marinela Kotsina Jul 24, 2008, 7:07am EDT
Words have power and it can make one's day or one's night!
Not being a poet myself, I cannot but feel what the message is when I read a poem.
If one writes only to be applauded, then it is a waste of time. What I see in your words is softly touching my own perception of someone who wants to share.
Thank you Vinay
I highly appreciate you
Vinay Benjamin Jul 24, 2008, 11:14am EDT
Marinela thank you, dear friend for such a wonderfully expressive compliment. I'm very grateful.
For English not to be your mother tongue, you certainly have a fantastic grasp of it.

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