Bar Napkin Sonnet # 22 [by Moira Egan]

Today and for the next two days we're pleased to present a trio of Moira Egan's Bar Napkin Sonnets.  #22-24. BNS #22-24 appeared in Damiano Abeni's Italian translation in Nuovi Argomenti (Italy) and are included in La Seta della Cravatta /The Silk of the Tie.  Bar Napkin Sonnets won The Ledge 2008 Poetry Chapbook Award and will be published in Fall 2009. -- DL

 BAR NAPKIN SONNET #22

(I want to fall in love, but not forever.
Is that the truth, or am I still confused
where love’s concerned?  Or am I simply used
to Solitary broken by Whoever
looks interested or interesting?  Never
quite thought of it that way.  What is the juice
that drives the flower, forces green the fuse
that sparks in me—what?  Last night, with my lover,
I almost dropped the L word.  O confusion!
He gathered up my hair the way they do
when habit seems like love.  On top of him
I swear I found some new type of orgasm.
I’ve swallowed almost anything, but do
you think it’s good to swallow I love you?)

SONETTO SUL TOVAGLIOLINO DI UN PUB #22

(Voglio innamorarmi, ma per sempre no.
E’ la verita’, o sono ancora confusa
se si tratta d’amore? Forse sono solo adusa
al Solitario interrotto da qualsiasi gigolo’
sembri interessato o interessante? Non ho
ma visto la questione cosi. Qual’e’ il succo
che forza il fiore, che spinge il verde boccio
che s’accende in me – qual’e’? L’altra notte con
l’Amante quasi m’e’ sfuggita la parola “A…”. Sciocca!
Mi aveva raccolto i capelli sulla nuca a crocchia
come quando l’abitudine imita l’amore. Nello spasmo,
cavalcandolo, ho scoperto un nuovo tipo di orgasmo.
Ho inghiottito praticamente di tutto ma, andiamo,
pensate sia bene inghiottire “Ti amo”?)

Comments

[Laura Orem]

Bellisima! (Two esses?)

And special kudos for finding a rhyme for "orgasm".

[DL]

I second LO's emotion, though I can't help thinking that the "orgasmo" and "spasmo" of the Italian can hardly be bettered on the, um, orgasm rhyme front. The conjunction of "used," "confused," "fuse" (abetted by "juice") is the Hegelian dialectic (thesis / antithesis / synthesis) made sexy. Hurrah.

[Moira]

Grazie mille!