Ardèche

by Emerson

Published June 21, 2007

In Poetry

I was told it never snowed in Misery,
but lovers tend to lie.

Comments & reviews · 25
User avatar
HiMyNameIs Comment
HiMyNameIs commented Comment · Mar 29, 2008

I think this is really amazing. This poem has been stuck in my head ever since I read it-I carved it into my french notebook with a toothpick. I don't think I could ever do something like this. Kudos to you!

User avatar
Shadow_Thief13
Comment
Shadow_Thief13 commented Comment · Mar 26, 2008

I totally agree with D7M. Definately a whole lot of meaning in that one sentence!

I soooo look forward to reading more of your writings!

ST

Darkhalm7_Melissa commented Comment · Mar 25, 2008

Short, sweet. Two lines with a whole lot of meaning. That's good. And you're what I'd call a fantastic writer.

D7M

User avatar
Someguy
Comment
Someguy commented Comment · Sep 28, 2007

It is only two lines,but there is so much in it.
I really liked it. Very nice.

User avatar
Jasmine Hart
Review
Jasmine Hart wrote a review Review · Sep 28, 2007

It really is beautiful, and you've expressed yourself perfectly. As the others have said though, it is very short. I think it would be nice to try and expand it. Maybe you could do a series of couplets. That might be fun. You have plenty of options anyway, given that you haven't hemmed yourself in with this. Lovely, as always, but some elaboration would be nice.

User avatar
Meep
Comment
Meep commented Comment · Aug 19, 2007

I think it's a good quote, but not a great poem.
I'm all about short'n'sweet, but I think this is too short to be called a poem.
I love the thing about France and provinces and towns and things. Very interesting.

User avatar
Fand
Comment
Fand commented Comment · Aug 14, 2007

I really love this--but I'm afraid it barely qualifies as poetry in my mind. A gorgeous sentiment, perfectly expressed... but not verse.

User avatar
shadowstorm
Review
shadowstorm wrote a review Review · Aug 7, 2007

Although Brad's comment was funny (and I'll have to remember it for use at some point in my life) I have to disagree with him.

Simplest thought for a seemingly simple and innocent poem:
That's deep, man. Real deep.

Now I must tend to the biting kitten that is most unfortunately fascinated with my arm.

User avatar
Evangelina
Comment
Evangelina commented Comment · Aug 7, 2007

For a two line poem, it had great depth and meaning. Well done.

User avatar
Snoink
Review
Snoink wrote a review Review · Aug 6, 2007

XD

I love Brad.

Anyway, I can see why this is supposedly great and I can appreciate the lack of words and the strange meanings they come up with, but I have to say that while this is an interesting piece, it is by no means your best and I think an expansion of this theme (in a different work, of course) would be very nice.

User avatar
Gadi.
Review
Gadi. wrote a review Review · Aug 6, 2007

I liked how both lines were a punchline at love. This punchline at love is from your own experience, and that makes it so much better! Snowed is an excellent metaphore, I agree, and the rhythmic sound makes it that much better. However, I did not understand the first line as much as I understood it as a whole. He lied to you about how it never snows in Misery? I tried, but could not get it. Please tell me!

User avatar
Incandescence
Comment
Incandescence commented Comment · Jun 24, 2007

Claudette,


I've seen cadavers with more life than this.


Better luck next time,
Brad

User avatar
Emerson
Comment
Emerson commented Comment · Jun 23, 2007

Thanks all.

I'm glad the responses vary. I don't think it is my best poem, but I think it is one of my most liked by me. Because it is so short, and vague, the reader is allowed to interpret as they see fit. Kind of an open ended thing?

By no means my favorite scrap.. But thanks everyone, none the less =]

User avatar
Crysi
Review
Crysi wrote a review Review · Jun 23, 2007

This keeps sticking in my brain. When I first read this, I have to be honest -- I wasn't fond of it. In fact, I'm still not fond of it as a poem. In my opinion, poems need to have at least three lines in order to qualify as, well, poems.

Still, I can't forget this. I keep clicking on it, even though I know what it is. Even though I probably have it memorized, if I thought about it. It seemed so... bland, at first, I suppose. But it feels almost like it connects to a far deeper truth, and that's what keeps bringing me back.

I can't say whether I like it or not, but it does seem to stay with me. So I suppose that's a good thing, eh? :)

User avatar
Enigma
Review
Enigma wrote a review Review · Jun 23, 2007

Two lines; they tell so much. :wink: At first, I didn't get it, I guess because I was looking too hard and trying to dig too deep for some hidden meaning. But it's pretty much clear as day, so I felt kinda slow after. Lol

Nice job, Claudette. Best wishes on the rest of your works!!

-Nic

User avatar
Leja
Comment
Leja commented Comment · Jun 22, 2007

Just two lines... yet they do work. When I saw it on the main page, I was initially looking for more of it ^_^

User avatar
Bella
Comment
Bella commented Comment · Jun 22, 2007

It seems like one of those things that at first glance says absolutely nohting, but that when reread, is so unbelievably full of emotion. I like it.

User avatar
Cade
Review
Cade wrote a review Review · Jun 22, 2007

[Claudette] 10:46 pm: =/ Colly, it wasn't a haiku

*bites* Well, it has 17 syllables, unless I'm counting badly because I'm running on about five hours of sleep. Although...modern haiku doesn't have to have 17...anyway. I still like it...but it should totally be a haiku. It's short and sweet, either way. The short length is part of its charm.

[Claudette] 10:50 pm: Colly> It isn't a haiku =/ And the title is a district of frnace where there happens to be a town calle dMisery

Oh. Psh. France.

I still like it. I have no constructive criticism...maybe I'll come back with some...or just suck.

-Colleen

User avatar
Meshugenah
Review
Meshugenah wrote a review Review · Jun 22, 2007

I love it. I won't repeat all cents said, but rather echo it. I wish I had this for timed write on the AP test this year, I could've had such fun with it!

I will say this, though: it feels like the end of some great conflict, and it's the lack of conflict that detaches a reader. Yes, it's fine as it stands, but to make the reader care without the analysis, you would have to elaborate; however, that would also make the paradox woefully overstated, and I like it as it, nice, simple, and understated. Much more effective that way, and it keeps a nice bitter edge to it, without the angst.

And I love the use of the word "lie." Lie together, lie to each other, that first can go two ways... yes. Wonderful word choice.

I shall stop now, in fear of repeating everything cents said so nicely.

User avatar
Kit
Review
Kit wrote a review Review · Jun 22, 2007

In terms of first person, I was thinking a little of Sylvia Plath, like in "the Mirror" or Robert Frost's "A Peck of Gold". Kind of a balance between a shallow romanticism and the bitter vulgarity of life, heightened with your references to the two cultures. Poignant. Almost like an anecdote in miniature. Interesting contrast to between the collective and the individual. Subtle. Grows on you too, you keep going back to it.

User avatar
Cade
Comment
Cade commented Comment · Jun 22, 2007

*pounces* Haiku!

I really like this. I think it shows the depth (but also simplicity) of a haiku very well. I don't know what the title means, either out of stupidity or living under a rock...could you elaborate, love?

Colleen

User avatar
Lady Pirate
Comment
Lady Pirate commented Comment · Jun 22, 2007

I like it
I like it a lot

User avatar
Rydia
Review
Rydia wrote a review Review · Jun 21, 2007

I can see that a lot can be read from these two lines but I would prefer a longer poem. Having said that, I do think you choice your words wisely and the pun on the second line is amazingly witty. It made me think of Donne - 'Until we labour, we in labour lie.' Also, the reference to snow rather than rain was quite original but I really do object to the length.

User avatar
whence
Review
whence wrote a review Review · Jun 21, 2007

Claudette wrote:I was told it never snowed in Misery,
but lovers tend to lie.


On first glance, it seems insubstantial, but if you delve a bit deeper, I think one can find a most satisfying case here. On a broad note, I noticed the following:

You start out in first person, which you yourself advise fiercely against. You didn't make the strongest case for relatability, but I think that can be overlooked by the actual ideas behind this. You have a wonderful fallacy between the truth of Love and the lies of lovers here, which is somewhat of a throwback to the fallacy of Love itself (a nice touch). You set up Misery as the town of lovers, and 'you' (as the narrator) are something of an invader. While your actual position is unknown, (a newcomer to Misery and thus, Love? Or just a visiting critic? One never really knows) from it arise some interesting questions. Is this really an objective look on the nature of love and loss? It doesn't appear to be so-- the tone seems borderline cynical to me. This unnamed character, though new to the manifestation of Misery, certainly isn't new to the ways of lovers and misery (the intangible abstract itself). This makes for a unique, though brief, insight into this little ton/province/whatever. I found it rather intriguing, really; so here I'll go line-by-line.

I was told it never snowed in Misery,

Snow is a well used metaphor here. It exposes your take on the true nature of love. Cold, wet, heavy; cumbersome really. However, this burden has a beauty all its own, and a purity unmatched. Still, that chill resides, presumedly, in Misery itself; another interesting thought (is numbness really just a companion to pain?). As for Misery itself, it's commonly associated with love, but you do a nice job in refreshing this idea. Also, a little research shows the title to be well-chosen, though not immediately apparently so (which may turn away less-involved readers--though I doubt that's a concern considering the generally inaccessible nature of this piece XD). As for the narrator being told this, I could doubtlessly provide several insights into this particular detail, but won't merely to try and keep this slightly less lengthy.

but lovers tend to lie.

Ah, I love your word choice here. It lent to thinking of the lovers physically tending to Lie; the abstraction, itself. Which really is a wonderful image, and I almost wish you'd acknowledge it more.


The stark lack of words here really got me examining the meaning behind the poem (rather then the poem itself), and that, Claw, is a very good thing.

Perhaps work on actually having the reader emotionally involved, rather then just appreciating it in an objective-analysis sort of way XD.



Light griefs are loquacious, but the great are dumb.
— Seneca