by | February 20, 2011 · 4:54 am
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(coin)cidences by Dorothee Lang

are tossed tangents
of chance,
flocks of relativity
touching the ground
right in front of
your feet
in the shape
of an invisible coin
pick it up and
live, now

or leave it

while you halt + read
live, now
backwards

while the heads
turn to tails

in this velo(city)
called our
life

which is
Leben
in German
and, in any mirror, turns to
Nebel:

fog.

.

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15 Comments

Filed under Dorothee Lang

15 responses to “(coin)cidences by Dorothee Lang”

  2. LindaS-W
    February 24, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    Perfect. Just perfect. Peace…

    Reply
  3. Len Kuntz
    February 24, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    love it. this is a good form for you. you carve out multiple meanings and the pieces sort of explode into all sorts of directions that demand a slow read and careful attention.

    Reply
  4. ganymeder
    February 24, 2011 at 10:44 pm

    This works so well. Really liked the mirror reference.

    Reply
  5. Dorothee
    February 25, 2011 at 1:24 am

    thanks! yes, the “word mirror”, and the multiple meanings it reveils. language is so fascinating, and writing this was like taking a step into the chemistry of words. i just blogged about it, here: http://virtual-notes.blogspot.com/2011/02/coincidences.html

    and so good to be back with 52/250. will print the issue today, to read it over the weekend.

    Reply
  6. susan
    February 25, 2011 at 3:41 am

    Amazing what you’ve accomplished here, Dorothee. It’s like you’re not only using the words to paint a picture, but each placement, each concept, is a masterful brushstroke of meaning.

    Reply
  7. Stella Pierides
    February 25, 2011 at 5:03 am

    I can only echo the others here. Very well done, a rich and reflective piece. Especially the Leben to Nebel…
    Someone pointed out to me another one along these lines: “live” backwards is “evil.” I wonder about this often – the roots of this word! A life lived backwards.
    Now I have your Leben and Nebel to add to my musings. A life in the mist/fog. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Darryl P.
    February 25, 2011 at 1:04 pm

    Excellent!

    Reply
  9. Marcus Speh
    February 26, 2011 at 3:58 am

    wonderful echoes…would love 4 you to put some of these germishsms in the kaffe in katmandu.

    Reply
  10. Kim Hutchinson
    February 26, 2011 at 6:20 am

    Beautiful, clever language, as always. “velo(city)” is my fave turn, here.

    Reply
  11. rgv7735
    February 26, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    I agree with Kim, my favorite moment also. Overall, I applaud your creative use of prose, layout, syntax and whatever else you throw into that POT! I look forward to your piece weekly.

    Reply
  12. Martin
    February 27, 2011 at 1:11 am

    I like the structure and the flow, and the way you leave things unsaid. The use of parenthesis and symbols in the text makes the work more complex and interesting to unravel, in addition to the palindromes at play. An intelligent and witty piece – I’m envious.

    Reply
  13. Michael Parker
    February 28, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Wonderfully crafted poem! Love the play of the word coin in coincidence and the reversal of meanings in “live, now.” yes, this is good stuff. Best,

    Reply
  14. timeout2
    March 1, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    I like your line-breaks and use of italics. I also liked the mirror – how everything is reversed – live now – the reverse is too terrible to contemplate! Doris

    Reply

  15. Pingback: Week #41 – Coincidence | 52|250 A Year of Flash

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