I find the Wind

a duplex poem

This morning I found an old discarded 1st draft poem from I-don’t-know-when, and changed it into something new utilizing Jericho Brown’s Duplex form. I have a love of repetitive forms such as sestina, pantoum, and ghazal; I often utilize repetition, even when in free form. I also enjoy slant rhymes- and although this poem/ form doesn’t contain a rhyme scheme, the repetition itself is slant, and I like that: I like it slant. Here is the result of today’s exercise, maybe you can give Duplex a go too.

Your fan, VKD

I find the wind licking the the brim of my hat
the shoulder of the road, turning a blind eye

the shoulder of the road curves blindly 
mascara hydroplanes my bare cheeks

my bare cheeks find salty rivers rushing 
maybe it is the wind–or the sun

the wind or the sun is busting my ego 
the train is going the wrong way, or I am

I am going the wrong way, I cannot train
the city in me, untrained & and going backwards

No, I am the untrained, the city just is 
The city just is trying to thaw and heal 

Springtime in the city is healing and raw
I find the wind licking the brim of my hat. 

VKD 6 April 2025