'Flame' (Notes To J.D., 3-23-03)

(jjorge) somehow, I lost my last response.

jjorge, really like this poem. Your choice of words makes the profile burn through beautifully. I would think about another choice for "..these boots were made for walkin'", however.

Letty

I appreciate for your interest and your comments. Here's a little background.

I wrote the poem for and to a new co-worker and friend. She is a flaming red-head or ' strawberry blonde' who writes free verse that is passionate, tender, idealistic, and (at times) angry.

I wrote my poem after reading some of hers. What I wrote describes my reading of her poetry and, to a large extent, my perception of her.

The references to: 'An Uncommon Hero', 'A pistol on your thigh', 'Sweet Talk', and let your 'armor fall' are all borrowed from her poems.

I take your point about the line, 'your boots are made for walking'. However, I'm not sure that I can change it. The last time I saw my friend she was wearing combat boots! and they seemed to symbolize the 'tough' part of the tough-tender enigma that is her. Just as the 'sweet talking' captures her tender, loving side.

So, in my poem she takes her boots off and her toughness or 'armor' falls leaving the tender, 'sweet-talking' part of her.

I was ambivalent about posting 'Flame' on A2K because the potential reader would not be aware of my friend or of where I was coming from in writing it.

P.S.
Before you ask I'll answer your question. . . .yes, I DO have a crush on her. Alas, there is no evidence as yet that it could be reciprocal.

Yes, jjorge. It becomes much clearer now that I understand the background. Have you showed the poem to your "flame"? You should, you know.

Letty
I've got to run (off to a seminar) but I wanted to answer your question.

I've sent it to her as an email. She sent one back saying she was 'impressed', and 'touched'.

I talked with her via phone the next day but she had gotten some disturbing news about her health (I'm not at liberty to disclose the specifics of her medical concerns) and she is pretty worried pending a second medical opinion. (She has to wait two agonizing weeks for her appointment with an expert doctor in Boston!). If that isn't enough she is worried about her daughter who is in the (late) ninth month of her pregnancy.

As you might suppose she is brave but scared and most of our conversation Saturday was about her health concerns.
I will be as supportive and helpful as she allows me to be as she goes through this, however it might be an extra stressor for her if I were to be as moony-eyed and adolescent with her as I feel.

She hasn't indicated that she recognizes 'Flame' as a love poem
and in any case, my role for now is to be a caring, supportive, friend.
We work together two nights a week and I will see her next on Wednesday evening.

Oops . . . I'm late for my seminar. I guess I couldn't relate this as quickly as I thought. Thanks for your interest.

Your friend jjorge

Ah, jjorge, I knowed you was a hopeless romantic when I first met you.

As for your friend, I know the uncertainty she must be feeling. Perhaps she shouldn't remove those combat boots just yet.

Letty

You may know me better than I do.

I REALLY thought my capacity for romance was gone....as it turns out, a funny feeling snuck up on me when I wasn't looking.
I guess my ability to be sappy was not exhausted after all.

Hey, jjorge.
You're the one who is moonstruck, and I'm the one who can't sleep!

Hi Letty,

can't sleep eh? That's not good. There is usually someone on A2K at any hour though.

I'm at work doing my once-a-week overnight. I have a cot in the office and can sleep when I'm not needed. It's been quiet since I got in at 12:30a.m. I should have jumped right on the cot and started zzzzzz'ing.

gezzy, mackenzie and pueo were online a few minutes ago having a nice conversation about collectibles. You ought to drop over.

Well, good night my friend. I hope the sandman catches up with you.

Jjorge, would you and Letty just keep talking? I've enjoyed the poem and the story behind it.
I hope things work out for her so that she can finally see what is so evident. If she has any sense, she will respond with sweet, sweet talk.
BTW, I agree with Letty about 'these boots are made for walkin.' It brings the banal Nancy Sinatra to mind--distracting in the midst of this lovely poem.

Hi Diane

Once again, point taken.
I hear what you're saying about that line but
it could be tough to find another way to say it ie.
that still preserves the meaning I want to convey.
I'll keep looking at it though. It's an interesting challenge.

My friend and I worked together tonight. It wasn't
very busy and we had a lot of time to talk.
I find her very easy to talk with - and the time
flies when we're together.
She seems to have decided that she won't obsess
about her coming specialist consult. That's probably
just as well.

We're talking a lot about our respective
life stories. That encourages me. I'm learning a
lot about her and vice versa. we're getting to
know each other in an easy-going no pressure way.

Sunday night I printed out ten of my best poems
and put them together in a little folder. I included
'Flame'. I gave her a copy tonight. (She had seen
a couple of them before).

Speaking of talking, it feels very strange to be
disclosing so much personal stuff online.

Jjorge, your personal stories are appreciated and respected. They also add to the poem.
When I know something about the background of a writer, the writing takes on much more meaning for me and, when a love story is involved, I just melt.

Aha! I was right all along.....

jjorge is a love. A sweetie. And complete mush.

<you go, jjorge!>

(((((jjorge)))))