PERFECT GIFT
Golden wrapping paper
Soft pink ribbon just so
Neatly tied with a gentle knot
Beneath a perfect bow
Wanting to be given?
Waiting to be found?
Had no one yet
So moved this gift
To fall open and unbound?
A passing stranger
Saw the gift
And brushed the perfect bow
The soft pink ribbon let slip its knot
And the gift began to know
Sometimes gifts are ready
Long before their time
And sometimes their receivers
Don’t notice perfect wine
Golden wrapping paper
Soft pink ribbon just so
The perfect gift
For another time?
The gift began to know
Tim Coburn
September, 2011
Copyright © Tim Coburn
All Rights Reserved
PERFECT GIFT
Notes
Perfect Gift is about the inner delight at being on the brink of love. As all-consuming as those feelings are, we never really know how things will turn out as we teeter between excitement and caution. The poem uses the familiar imagery of a gift, complete with golden wrapping paper and soft pink ribbons, to create the magical feeling of attraction and anticipation. While it leaves the romantic question unanswered, I’ve often wished it had been more clear, and the poem more complete. As it says though, maybe another time.
FIND YOUR VOICE
Writing a poem is an adventure into new territory. Poetic form has a different phraseology to conversational prose – it changes the boundaries of how we usually speak. For expressive clarity, poetry uses more imagery, metaphor and story. Words and meaning are more deliberately considered. As well as making sense in written words, poetry conveys its meaning in sound and how it makes us feel. To make a poem work, our vocabulary is stretched, our word hoard expanded and our vocal identity enriched.
The development of vocal identity extends to every aspect of your life – your voice is the medium by which you get things done. With communication and conversational skills so central to who we are as human beings, I have always been interested in the effect writing poetry has on the clarity, confidence and effectiveness with which we talk. I addition to sharing poetry and my reflections on it, I offer short talk and workshops for leaders, team members and technical specialists who want to improve the quality and impact of their voice.
If this appeals to you, please get in touch.
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