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Describe the Air

April 6, 2014 By Talya Tate Boerner 32 Comments

Describe the air, he says.

Don’t think about it, just start

writing. Whatever comes to mind.

Air? She mumbles the word and stares

at him or at least he thinks she is staring at him

but really she is looking at the clock on the wall

just above his shoulder. From her spot in the classroom

the clock appears to be perched near his ear

which strikes her as funny. Not haha funny

but crazy funny. Like describing air.

He paces in front of his desk then stops

and repeats himself like he is prone to do.

Just whatever comes to mind, the way air feels, he says, drawing

out the word f-e-e-e-e-l-s.

She doesn’t know how to describe air. She doesn’t

belong in this class or this school or this place or this

life.

This uncomfortable life.

The classroom is filled with sounds

of scribbling. Pen to paper. Thoughts spill

and pens move effortlessly, yet she sits frozen.

Immobile.

He walks to her desk.

He stares.

He snatches her blank notebook paper.

Her pen bounces to the floor

and hides beneath her desk.

Nothing, he says.

That’s how the air feels to me, she whispers.

He stares. She watches the clock.

schoolhouse clock

 

Grace Grits and Gardening

April is National Poetry Month. Although Air is not written in the style of a traditional poem (and I do not profess to be a poet, heaven’s no), I do enjoy writing poefictiontry which Carve Magazine describes simply as poetry that tells a story or flash fiction that sounds lyrical. 

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: Carve Magazine, National Poetry Month, poefictiontry, poetry

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Comments

  1. Darrica Jackson says

    April 6, 2014 at 8:52 am

    Very nice. Made me think

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Thank you Darrica!

      Reply
  2. Jane Gatewood says

    April 6, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    I’m there, watching the clock. Nothing.
    Very well chosen words.
    True.
    Great poem – loved the form, too.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Thank you Jane!

      Reply
  3. Kathy says

    April 6, 2014 at 1:01 pm

    WOW, that made me think too! Air? Interesting thought…how to describe air. Might have to try that one for myself. ♥

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks Kathy – this was to be my A post for A-Z Blog Challenge had I not dropped out:(

      Reply
  4. Stephanie Daigneault says

    April 6, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    That’s awesome! I had no idea it was poetry month! May need to get cracking on one!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks Stephanie – it’s not too late!

      Reply
  5. Colene says

    April 6, 2014 at 1:58 pm

    That made him think! Jerk! Ha

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:21 pm

      Thanks Colene:)

      Reply
  6. Shauna - The Best Blog Recipes says

    April 6, 2014 at 4:19 pm

    Thanks for sharing this poem with us!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:22 pm

      Thank you for reading and commenting Shauna!

      Reply
  7. pat laster says

    April 6, 2014 at 4:20 pm

    Was this CD Mitchell by chance? Or is it true “fiction”? Good job. pl

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm

      Pat this is 100% fiction. I wrote this for the April A-Z Blog Challenge (A is for Air), then decided not to participate this year. I enjoyed CD Mitchell’s class—he was nothing like the professor in this poem – LOL.

      Reply
      • Colene says

        April 7, 2014 at 10:08 am

        I always wonder what I can believe! Either way I love it!

        Reply
  8. Aurora says

    April 6, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    I was such a clock-watcher in high school.
    And college.
    And nursing school.
    I probably would be at work too, but I’m usually up and around, doing something!
    Wonderful poem. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 6, 2014 at 5:22 pm

      Thank you! I was a clock watcher in high school. And sometimes at work:)

      Reply
  9. Joyce says

    April 6, 2014 at 6:39 pm

    I’d say that’s a perfect description of air.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Donna Austin says

    April 6, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    You made something interesting and fun out of thin air. I enjoyed!

    Reply
  11. Cathi says

    April 6, 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Very nice…thanks for sharing, Talya. I agree, air feels like ‘nothing’…I take it for granted. A ticking clock, not so much…it’s the bane of my busy existence. 🙂

    Reply
  12. Sarah R. says

    April 6, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    I hardly ever read poetry that’s not Dr. Seuss, so thanks for the opportunity to read something a little more grown up and thought provoking!

    Reply
  13. Elizabeth says

    April 7, 2014 at 5:06 am

    I love it! I actually brought back a memory of my sister having an experience very similar to this in school. I could even smell the school and hear that giant wall clock ticking.

    Reply
  14. Jennifer says

    April 7, 2014 at 8:34 am

    Well… I’m not much into poetry, but this caught my attention! You have such a way with words Talya!!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 7, 2014 at 5:02 pm

      Thanks Jennifer!

      Reply
  15. Dorothy Johnson says

    April 7, 2014 at 4:39 pm

    You are so creative! I definitely am a clock watcher or watch watcher, which is one reason I have not discarded it and made my cell phone my time keeper. It’s easier to steal a look without being noticed.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 7, 2014 at 5:03 pm

      I watch the clock if I’m not engaged:) Isn’t it great when you get lost writing and realize half the day has passed!

      Reply
  16. Fay Guinn says

    April 7, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    You’re right, Talya. I wouldn’t call this a poem but it is very good prose spaced on the page like a poem. Great insight into those pompous, elitist writing classes where they want you to create something from nothing. Sometimes zero just means zero!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 7, 2014 at 6:24 pm

      Thanks Fay:)

      Reply
  17. Janelle says

    April 7, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    Beautiful. That is exactly how I would describe air but in a much less poetic way.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 8, 2014 at 6:41 am

      Thank you Janelle.

      Reply
  18. Aditi says

    April 9, 2014 at 1:44 am

    Loved this! I read it and read it again….and you got me thinking!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      April 9, 2014 at 6:46 am

      Thank you!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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