Clear Polish Poem by Nika McGuin
Clear Polish
Though the polish is clear,
Though it shines and reflects the light,
Thin fissures are visible on the surface
And they foresee cracks and chips
You can predict the end of something
But you never quite know how it will break
When you thought it would just hurt you,
You come to find out it also would hurt your parents
And you never quite know when it will happen
Even as the cracks are forming, you don’t know
When the pieces will begin to fall off
When they do though,
They leave you stripped and weakened
Like your nail beds after removing acrylic nails
Dry and brittle like skin after a hot shower
It’s a rough and splitting situation
With acceptance new growth begins
Slow, like growing out thin nails
Like growing pains, like grief
This poem has a holistic vision guiding it. It takes place in several levels, and all of the levels are accorded the same degree of importance, which strikes me as a very effective of preventing despair from taking hold of the psyche. You begin with an ordinary situation of things breaking down, but not really significant but then the subject of parents enters the poem, and the stakes are higher. It's this web of comparison/contrast that drives your poem.I'm drawn to the fluency of your language: each word fits so neatly and the transitions are smooth. I'm speaking as a fellow poet who wrestles with the writing process. so I know when a poem has this inevitable quality.
well, my guess would be that this is referring to a 'relationship'/marriage/boyfriendship/girlfriendship/friendship breaking apart, accompanied by the fallout for people near the most affected persons (the 'two') . i never had acrylic nails, but i used to eat my cuticles. is it anything like that? a poem worth my while. thanks. of course i already knew all about it! bri :) too bad 'predictions' don't happen BEFORE two people become so close. of course (those words again!) predictions are not always to be believed, and they don't always pan out.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Delivering Poems Around The World
Poems are the property of their respective owners. All information has been reproduced here for educational and informational purposes to benefit site visitors, and is provided at no charge...
4/26/2024 9:13:43 PM # 1.0.0.1119
the process of a situation slowly coming apart and the cracks widening to include other linked relationship is rendered effective by the intelligent rhythm of the poem. I felt the tension building with a subtle force. This is very good writing indeed. Having read four or five of your poems to date, I think it's time I put you on my favourite Poets' list. Tom Billsborough