the INLAID EAR

Rockin' the dot matrix!

[I revised/improved this one somewhat from the 30-year old original]   Ony Ody Firstly heard the one called Melo Speaks to Harmo clear as a bell-o: “Harmo, I need you. You can tell-o. I’m the tasted without the smell-o. Yes, the water, but no well-o. I’m the goods that will not sell-o. You must talk so I can yell, so Separate, we are doomed to hello.” Answering the one called Harmo Speaks to Melo smooth and warm-o: “I, the fury, but no storm-o; Aye, the bones—without the arm-o. Animals without the farm-o. Without you I have no form! Oh, You’re the bees, but I’m the swarm, so Conjoining states must be our norm, yo.” Melo sings sharp and Harmo hums hollow. Melo speaks bright and Harmo thrums mellow. Harmo flows blue while Melo shows yellow. Melo’s the peaches in Harmo’s Jello. Melo is famed more than Mel’s fellow. But Harmo leads for Melo to follow.

I am pitching Mortified , a live show where, if I am accepted and choose to go forward with this, I will be reading pages from my late high school diary that clearly illustrate my sexual confusion and why I was such a late bloomer. It was interesting to have this reflected back to me by Kevin, one of the event organizers, based on my first submission: "I'm especially intrigued by the idea of fancy poetry about adolescent sexual frustration, though I have to say the samples you've attached seem almost too sophisticated to be mortifying." I had been embarrassed by my old writings, but now I see there is some sophistication there. Take this sample sonnet where I am rigid in my iambic pentameter. I think this one isn't bad: Sonnet From what you’ve seen of me, I am a fool Today back to the time you saw me first. Before your eyes, I’ve stumbled from the rule. Yet I do swear you’ve only seen my worst The words I speak to you ...