Beauty lies not
(he emphasised not)
in the eye,
but in the brain.
He’d reduced it
to a formula:
……….two ex
……….plus
……….why squared
……….divided by double-u
……….equals
……….stunning grandeur.
Uninspired she smiled
and feigned interest —
hearing the emphatic rise and fall of his voice,
beautiful in its timbre.
When she left
she shook her head sadly.
He’d missed
the point
entirely.
**********************************************************************************
Björn is hosting at dVerse, asking us to use pauses in our writing.
“Make (the pauses) visible in the way that suits you best.”
This piece was inspired by a podcast.
little learner 
Jan 04, 2018 @ 23:37:08
I like how you use structure to indicate pauses. Nice write!
Jan 04, 2018 @ 23:41:52
Thank you, Frank!
Jan 04, 2018 @ 23:56:41
My pleasure!
Jan 05, 2018 @ 00:44:46
Perfectly placed em dash! You added so much meaning in your structure.
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:17:00
Thank you. Was interesting to write and focus specifically on the quiet spaces!
Jan 05, 2018 @ 00:53:37
I like these lines: “two ex
……….plus
……….why squared”
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:17:56
😊 I worried a bit that it wouldn’t make sense. But then I liked it and left it. Thank you!
Jan 05, 2018 @ 04:30:16
Ha! Men often miss the point. I liked the formula part muchly.
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:33:14
Hee hee! Thank you. 😊
Jan 05, 2018 @ 04:31:42
Indeed. Missed the proverbial boat, he did. The silences carry this poem far.
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:34:12
Thank you. It was a good exercise to “listen” for the phrasing. 😊
Jan 05, 2018 @ 22:21:49
I think you did it well.
Jan 06, 2018 @ 06:14:31
Thank you. 😊
Jan 05, 2018 @ 05:32:29
Well done! We tend to do that… miss the point! I loved your middle section. I thought with all those calculations you were going to come out with a divorce!!
Interesting!
Dwight
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:34:43
THAT would have fun! Thank you!
Jan 05, 2018 @ 10:10:43
Ha… I can see this happen… It’s never how but why that matters love the structure and that em dash.
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:36:42
Thank you for a great prompt, Björn! I don’t pay much attention to the pace and the quiet within the poems. This exercise is going to impact the way I write!
Jan 05, 2018 @ 11:52:43
Good… this is the real purpose of the prompt-
Jan 05, 2018 @ 23:13:53
love the tight structure of this poem and the visuals! the silence is all in that they did not say – brilliant write
Jan 06, 2018 @ 06:15:21
Wow, thanks for the feedback, Laura! 😊
Jan 06, 2018 @ 13:25:07
His rhythm vs hers…well done.(K)
Jan 06, 2018 @ 13:29:55
Thank you. 😊
Jan 11, 2018 @ 01:10:32
I better not leave in silence! This reminds me of some erudite men of the Academy with their pipes and wit and everything else formulaic, while the messy beauty of humanity bustles outside the walls in patterns that will never be solved.
Jan 11, 2018 @ 02:22:51
Yes! Indeed! Pride dost slay wonder. 😊