I felt like doing a quickie poem today, ended up getting super-involved in it, and took about two hours ironing this one out. There’s this great poem by Paisley Rekdal that was up at poets.org last month, Self-Portrait as Mae West One-Liner. The poem doesn’t say or do much, but the anagrammatic frenzy was pretty fun to do. The original quote is the last line of this one. And I’m more of a Tallulah Bankhead/Dorothy Parker than a Mae West fan, for just that little bit of extra venom. If I had more time, I could probably double the length of this one; there are lots of anagrams and partial-anagrams out there.
Self-Portrait as Tallulah Bankhead Quip
Solve me:
I’m Russia, Siberia, miserable soot. I’m
too-various blue. But I miss valor.
I miss trouble. I burst violas, I’m sour
salt vibe, a Tivoli rose-muse. Oboe airs
suit me, a boisterous volume– but I’m
a loser. Above me is rust;
some visa trouble. I’m a vile sorbet,
a mouse iris, but also
obvious leisure. I’ve a bit more: I’m subtle,
marvelous, risible, a mobile virtuoso.
I’m a solo vote, I misuse velour.
Romeo, alive. I arouse loose vim; but,
I’m serious about love.
What an interesting idea…I’d have to let it wander around my mind a bit,
….thank you.
Peace,
Siggi
Love it! Striking like this:
I’m subtle,
marvelous, risible, a mobile virtuoso.