Poem: "Skinfriends"

[ysabetwordsmith]

*sleighbells jingling*

This poem came out of the June 7, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from aldersprig.  It has been sponsored by laffingkat and dedicated to Wolfsong.

Skinfriends

My skin hungers for your touch

Comments

[bodhifox]

This is incredible.

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm glad you like it. I'm really happy this one got sponsored, because I think the world needs more literature about varieties of love that are not based on sex. It's also really important for primates to get enough loving touch, because otherwise they go insane ... and the world today is not very touch-friendly in a lot of cultures.

Re: Thank you!

[bodhifox]

Absolutely. Touch starved myself right now, but next week a few days of hugs with the kids should help.

Thank you

[laffingkat]

This is beautiful, and I think he would have liked it very much. It took my breath away when I first read it--you almost could have been channeling him when you wrote it, it so closely echoes one of our last conversations together.

Re: Thank you

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm happy to hear that.

My inspiration always comes in part from the Universe, and I'm perfectly comfortable working with spirits who aren't currently alive. So all things are possible. And some things just really, really need to be said.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Trying to express non-sexual, non-romantic physical closeness in English as it stands and is used today is so awkward.<<

True. English is not well-suited to that use. One has to cook it down rather a lot. *chuckle* Fortunately I'm not limited to English, and my access to certain other cultures and languages makes it easier to figure out a way to express similar sentiments in English despite its limitations.

>> The comfortableness of touch between us is one of the things that makes my best friend so dear to me, when touch is so often uncomfortable or even painful from others.<<

Ah, that kind of monogamy is an indication of a primary relationship. Though monogamy isn't quite the right word. Monotaxis, maybe, or monotaction. One touch.

>>You've captured that beautifully here. <<

Thank you.

If you haven't already read it, I highly recommend "Ajzelin" by haikujaguar.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Not quite mono-, either. There are a couple of other people I'm also comfortable with. <<

That's good to hear.

>>I hadn't read that. Wonderful little vignette. That's going to stay open in a tab for a bit for me to explore the rest of it, I think.<<

The whole book is awesome. There is a companion volume that deals with more challenging topics, but in a similar manner: The Admonishments of Kherishdar.

[meridian_rose]

Lovely :D

[kitrona]

Utterly breathtaking. It has the unmistakable ring of truth, and is so beautiful and expresses so much that I've had trouble saying. It's so difficult to find the words for these emotions, and once again, you did it beautifully.

(BTW, I found one of your books in my friends' pagan shop and I was so excited I squeaked. And then told everyone. :) )

Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>Utterly breathtaking. It has the unmistakable ring of truth, and is so beautiful and expresses so much that I've had trouble saying.<<

I really appreciate this.

>> It's so difficult to find the words for these emotions, and once again, you did it beautifully.<<

I pretty much can't walk past a lexical gap without wanting to chuck something into it. If enough people do that, eventually we WILL have words for this stuff.

>> I found one of your books in my friends' pagan shop and I was so excited I squeaked. And then told everyone.<<

Yay! That's always fun. Thank you for sharing.

Re: Thank you!

[kitrona]

Very good points. I appreciate you doing what you do; these gaps are huge for me, and for many others, I'm sure.

Re: Thank you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.

This sort of thing is a key part of what a wordsmith is FOR.