Detail from Their Eyes Met Across a Crowded Room by Nancy Denommee
When matters of the heart affect mankind
an innate aura is at once engaged
from some internal impulse ill-defined
by scientist, philosopher or sage.
It doesn’t matter what this instinct be,
it’s something that’s enriched by being abstruse;
be thankful that it strikes so naturally
for to invoke it may dilute its use.
How else could one feel startled, awed and stung
on meeting eyes across a crowded space,
a visually transmitted force that stuns
then draws both on in spite of time or place?
How else could poet’s pen detect a vibe
and, bypassing the brain, could yet describe?
Fugitive Fragments 
Mike – ran across an old comment of yours on one of my posts and wondered how you were doing. Hoping all is well. Miss you here on the Press. -CC
Mike, I left wordpress for awhile and came back, in part, expressly, to look up your posts. I will be grateful to review the archives, but miss newer postings. I hope all is well in world, sounds as if it is just and rightly so…
Good Day/evening …Mike
Hope all is well in your world…been a long time so I thought it was time to stop in and say Hello again
you and your thoughts are missed 🙂
Take Care…You Matter
maryrose
Wishing you a Joyful and Merry Christmas Mike, where ever you are wandering these days 🙂
Take Care You Matter
maryrose
This is fantastic.
Wow! You exemplify human emotions with such skill. This is a wonderful piece.
oh Mike, “When matters of the heart affect mankind,” my “instinct” tells me to search for him “across a crowded room,” but if he can’t be found, i hope that he is well and safe, and send out into the world, a reminder that his essence is being missed; as i patiently wait for his return 😉
I’d been wondering where you’d gone too. Glad that the preoccupations are good ones. When they’re bad, writing becomes an escape. Hope the good blossoms soon and we have you back sharing with us again.
Have you fallen down a manhole? Got locked in a closet? Forgotten your WordPress password? Where you be, dude?
Tá mé anseo Jackie and I’m tickled to be inquired after by a compatriot expatriate, fellow blogger and author even. Some heavy sh1t going down at the moment – good, not bad. I’m so focused on ultra-practical and corporeal stuff on this highly unpoetical orbit that all thoughts of writing seem alien. I am however catching up on my reading, finally tackling ‘War and Peace’ – on my phone (“there’s an App for that”) so you might find me on ‘Ripley’s Believe It Or Not’ if I ever finish it in this fashion. Thank you for thinking of me dear Jackie and stay well 🙂
Skip the War part and read only the Peace, and get back to giving us your poetry
For me, your poem speaks of that special bond between two people – separated yet connected by line of sight in a crowded room, packed subway or footpath brimming with bobbing heads. Well done, Mike – you’ve done well indeed with this poem.
– Eric
Your accurate interpretation and imaginative extension of the theme adds value to my work Eric – greatly appreciated, thanks.
It’s amazing Mike!! Each time you come out with a splendid new writing. I just love the way you express. You know how to put all those emotions perfectly, in an ornamental way !!
I am honored by your kind praise Hitaishi and appreciate your reading and feedback. Thank you very much.
I likw it very much…well formed.
Thank you Katherine for this positive and welcome comment.
This lovely poem of attraction goes to the core of poetry for what is more worthy than love.
Thoughtful analysis with focused insight – ever appreciated H, thank you.
Another great poem, Mike… I love those doubtful notes at the end… sometimes intuition is elusive, isn’t it?…. ❤ All my best wishes, Aquileana 😀
Perspicuous words Aquiliana – thank you for this compliment and feedback xo
I enjoyed both the words and the cadence of your writing.
And I thank you greatly for saying so Ms Wright. Much appreciated feedback.
There isn’t much left to be said after all these wonderful comments. So I will simply say that I so enjoy your writing and you captured the true ” vibe” of the life flow of a poet ‘ s pen.
Your comment gets to the heart of this very piece UCW and is particularly appreciated. I thank you.
I had an unpleasant flashback, reading that line about meeting eyes across a crowded space–guess that confirms your poem, eh?
The lazer-gaze from such eyes permanently score the heart LF – it would appear that we are both among the walking wounded 🙂
Yes, and I probably shouldn’t reveal this, but you share my ex-husband’s name. Apparently, I’ve healed somewhat, as there was a time I would have simply skipped over anything/anyone that reminded me. Victory dance.
I see it now, a tango with a blood-red rose between your teeth! Olé LF – poetry in motion 😀
How lovely, you’ve started my day with a smile!
I enjoyed the contemporary feel of this sonnet. Kudos to you to working with it, but not being a slave to it.
I am delighted you noticed that I allow the message to take priority over form pearlz – a keen comment that I’m particularly delighted to earn. I thank you accordingly.
You’re welcome 😉 I used to go to a writing class with a sonnet master, but sometimes the pieces were a little tight, but I liked the slight looseness here.
Knowing that the feedback comes from a onetime master’s apprentice makes me even prouder to have received it pearlz 🙂
I don’t think I can write sonnets that well though. I’ll see if I can dig any old ones up.
I blush – but look forward to reading a sample of yours.
We’ll see I might decide they are a total waste of time. I truly found sonnets hard to master and don’t think I ever did.
Put ’em out there pearlz and let others be the judge!
Yes, will do so eventually. So much to do right now, but maybe a sonnet Sunday might be in order.
I love this! Excellent.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to leave this affirmative feedback Lynda, it is greatly appreciated 🙂
Is it redundant if I say the eyes are the window to the soul? Or is it cliche? Nonetheless, a clever piece. Loved it.
No cliché Chrissy, just you embellishing my poem with an additional layer 🙂 A grateful thank you.
🙂
Mike, “Instinct” is a stunning poem. True, no logic can be offered, whims of the heart often bypass the brain. This is beautiful, superbly written, filled with emotion and ever so graceful.
Warm wishes,
Pepperanne
You’ve made my day Pepperanne! Thank you for this generous appraisal 🙂
This really has a natural flow to it.. And how sometimes we just follow our instinct placing our pen on paper.. Wonderful when knowledge comes by instinct.
There are indeed poems that seem to write themselves Bjorn, rare that they are. Thanks for your (instinctive?) response 🙂
Beautifully rhymed–I esp like the line ‘an innate aura is at once engaged’
So glad you enjoyed this Polly. Thanks for reading and selecting a favorite element.
“It doesn’t matter what this instinct be”. Fascinating Mike. 🙂
Yes indeed Nomzi, naming something does not effect its power – think of Shakespeare’s rose. Thank you for your analysis and gratefully received feedback.
Precisely Mike. Where have you been all this time? 😀
excellent! hope all is well with you, sir. very well written 🙂
Thanks for swinging by K, your feedback is much appreciated.
Well- written description of what it’s like to make that special contact with that special someone.
It’s a rare thing.
But a moment to be enjoyed and savoured when it happens.
And you capture that moment so well in this poem, Mike.
Astute observations all DVH – thank you for this glowing affirmation.
Beautifully penned, intriguing, bypassing the brain…that’s how poetry is born!
Inordinately complimentary analysis and music to this poet’s ears Tiny. I thank you most sincerely.
When I saw the photo, I wondered then as I read the poem where you were going with it. Aha, then I saw the journey. The meeting of the eyes really does transcend the mind but the poet in you was able to explain so much here!
You certainly know the way to a poet’s heart Christy and your appreciative interpretation takes you to the very heart of this piece. Thank you so very much.
Excellent as it works toward its inspired conclusion.
Thank you Dennis, I greatly appreciate this acknowledgement and feedback.
..”can yet describe”.. beautiful poetry Mike, as always. This poem feels very measured to me, as if you’re saying to the reader “slow down, listen to the heartbeat of the universe..listen to what happens, be aware of those indefinable moments”. Great poem!
Your considered analysis augments this piece with an unseen layer of beauty Angela. I am truly grateful – thank you hugely.
This is great. I particularly enjoyed your use of rhyme, which is all too rare these days. “for to invoke it may dilute its use” is my favorite line, an iambic pentameter worthy of Pope 🙂 One suggestion: “affect” not “effect.”
Kind words linnetmoss (and erudite editing). I thank you for both.
How else, indeed. Your poems are one of the few things on my daily reading list that I slow down for and savour each word. Evocatively beautiful.
Wow, you’re blowing my mind here gc. This feels so rewarding – I am humbly grateful.
Love is ill-defined by all but poets like you. (((hugs)))
Your very welcome flyby and feedback is greatly appreciated WW – thank you 🙂
As always, Mike, writing of the highest order.
Best wishes
john
My greatest appreciation for your reading and complimentary words John.
Very to the point and so correct. My writer’s brain just went olé as you waved a red cape at over thinkers. You even rhymed ‘abstruse’ and ‘use’!
This delightfully revealing and anecdotic comment was obviously crafted in an intuitive mind. So glad you shared this Steve – thank you.
I think I really like this 🙂
as I usually do…especially how the poet can detect a vibe by by-passing the brain (wellthats how I saw it written 🙂 Thank you for an upbeat energy, this feels like a smile to spread around
(does that make sense LOLs)
Take Care Mike…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
Objective reading and analysis is your forte maryrose and I appreciate your opinion as ever. Thank you so much.
Instinctively in Matters of the Heart, You Matter Mike and I wonder where you have wandered too,
perhaps you have met that gaze across a room, and have fallen under a spell of a Goddess ? 🙂
I hope everything is Okay in your part of the world….I wanted you to now I was thinking about you and your thoughts, and each of them are missed….
Take Care ….You Matter…
)0(
maryrose
Your kind words are warmly received with thanks maryrose. Mundane matters require priority at the moment (nothing as appealing as a Godess 😀
flattery will get you a smile 🙂
that is if you referred to me as a Goddess LOLs…
you still can keep the smile even you weren’t 🙂
Hope your mundane life is full of passion in doing what you love doing
otherwise its just work
Take Care…You Matter…
)0(
maryrose