Ph: Stanford: Love: Construction Zone - Hard Hats Recommended Poem by Brian Johnston

(An Echo Poem)

Poet’s Prenote:
This is a new poetic form that I have invented (I think) . I call it an Echo Poem where two stand alone poems (with their own titles) are given a new title and published as one poem with a new title because of the unique way in which they 'echo' each other. I have published many poems like this before, sometimes combining my own poems as I have done here, but sometimes when I write a response to another’s poem as well. In some instances I validate the other’s poem and in other instances I offer a shift in perspective on the original poem. This is always done of course with my co-author’s permission.

Forever Mine

I always knew you would belong to me one day
And knew too that there would be others
You and I could never be forever…
Moving from shop to shop I’d eyeball parts for you
Sizing up what you would look like
When my dreams were finally realized
The only man you could ever love.

Nikola Tesla had nothing on me
When I imagined your comings and goings,
The competence of feminine curves
Leaving nothing to be desired.
The flawless logic of your imagination,
The joining of appendages to body,
So perfect in every aspect,
And skin forever supple and yielding
No other woman could compare.
All components tested well in advance by
The man who might be your God.

Now my research completed
The real work could finally begin,
From the ground up you came together,
Seed of my imagination blooming at last
Dreamlike was the realization of your beauty
Until naked you stood complete before me
As if asleep perhaps, or waiting for my command.
I pressed the hidden switch
And felt your soul receive its spark
A slight hum and smell of plastic barely noticeable
Hmmnn, I thought, and added perfume to my list.
Your smile seemed so perfectly full of life
As your body temperature rose to meet mine.
Softly you engaged yourself in my life,
Digital sensitivity part of your program,
You urged your potential onto living flesh,
Your hand so gently placed in mine.
But as I yielded to this new passion,
I confess that I wondered for a second or two,
Just how long the two of us would last.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Yes”

Life is so simple, she says “Yes! ”
Though times can jar, I must confess,
I’ve never really had to guess,
The girl says, 'Yes, ' she answers 'Yes, ' the girl means 'Yes! '

It isn't that she's never mad,
It isn't that I'm never bad,
But somehow she just thinks I'm rad,
For girl says, 'Yes, ' she answers 'Yes, ' the girl means 'Yes! '

Anxiety I’ve left behind,
Prosperity is all I find,
For I know just what’s on her mind
When girl says, 'Yes, ' she answers 'Yes, ' the girl means 'Yes! '

And though the seasons change for us
I feel secure though we may fuss
But roles are not androgynous
We both say “Yes, ” we answer “Yes”, we both mean ‘Yes! ”

And in the night still all aglow,
Between first Spring and end of snow
I tell her what she wants to know
When I say, “Yes, ” I answer ‘Yes, ” my heart says, “Yes! ”

Poet’s Notes:
Both of these poems show an individual(s) building a relationship but from very different perspectives. The scientist trying to build into the other the answer to his heart felt dreams of what a perfect relationship would be like. The ‘Lovers’ perhaps hoping to eliminate problems (in a rather simple and mechanical fashion) in their relationship always say “Yes.” But they build with ideas and concepts not with bricks and mortar. Still perhaps in loving another there are times we need to say 'No' as well. Love may have its reasons, but can we as human beings ever be aware of all of them? And might love always die if these reasons are required to remain fixed?