apologies

arqios

 

Apologia in Free Verse (After Too Much Metre)

 

I meant to speak plainly. To let the thought go unbuttoned,

leaned against a kitchen chair, talking about traffic

or the way light hits the linoleum.

 

But then—I rhymed.

By accident or reflex or loneliness.

 

It was you that made me do it—

not out of guilt, but because the sentence curled

toward music, and I didn’t stop it.

 

You rolled your eyes. I apologised.

And still the phrases rang like pewter spoons.

 

There’s something in me that keeps folding

speech into couplets, as if silence

might forgive it easier when dressed in echo.

 

So no—I wasn’t trying to impress you.

I was just afraid the truth, unmetred,

might sound too sharp when said aloud.

 

 

 

 

 

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Comments +

Comments9

  • David Wakeling

    I think after awhile it becomes easy to write couplets in rhyme.No shame in that. An interesting reflection.Well done

    • arqios

      Yup and it's putting the brakes on after the fact that can be challenging at certain times. Thanks amigo 🕊️🙏🏻

    • sorenbarrett

      Isn't that funny how habit shows through. Have been accused of it as well and it does not go over well in an argument or very serious times. Loved it

      • arqios

        Yes they do. Raised and trained in rhyming makes it something that cannot just be rid off. Thanks Soren 🕊️🙏🏻

      • arqios

        Thanks for the Fave @Soman Ragavan 🙏🏻🕊️

      • Poetic Licence

        Not sure if I have this right, but sounds like someone complaining about you having the ability to write in rhyme, which if is the case not sure what they are complaining about, to me you certainly have more than one style of writing, all enjoyable, nicely expressed and written

        • arqios

          Quite right dear friend. Some people are not into rhyming and that could be a creative roadblock to those that do. Thanks so much for your much valued input.🙏🏻🕊️

          • Poetic Licence

            You are very welcome

          • arqios

            Thanks for the Fave @Poetic Licence 🕊️🙏🏻

          • Kevin Hulme

            There's nothing wrong in writing Rhyme
            I seem to do it all the time
            If Free Verse is the Horse you ride
            No fence or hill you'll need abide.

            Enjoyed your Poem.

            • arqios

              Yup. Rhyming is in the ear of the beholder. Thanks, Kevin🙏🏻🕊️

            • Tristan Robert Lange

              Oh wow! Just wow! Brilliant, Rik. Seriously, mate. Brilliant. This is perfection, imho. So I am just going to stop there and fave this! Well done! 🌹👏🤯 Oh, and if someone complained to me about writing, well I would not have thought to brilliantly write this. I would have just written 'em an epic, rhyming elegy, in ballad form. Methinks your approach might have been superior to mine! Just 'cause! 😏 And one more thing I noticed. An apologia is less an apology and more a defense in classical writing. This was a great apologia, not that you had to offer it. Glad you did! Guess I didn't just "stop there", now did I. 🤣🪞🫗🎼🙏

              • arqios

                Poetic apologetics, yes amigo. Thanks muchly🙏🏻🕊️

                • Tristan Robert Lange

                  Most welcome!

                • arqios

                  Thanks for the Fave @Cheeky Missy @Tristan Robert Lange

                • Doggerel Dave

                  Elements here - kitchen, interaction felt very real. Again the smooth detail drew me in.👍

                  I don't believe your work here is overly endowed with rhyme! Forgiven and faved anyway...............



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