Andrea Dietrich Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

For Edward Ibeh's Pick-A-Title, Vol 48 Poetry Contest

posted Dec. 31, 2025

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Cacoethes

Cacoethes as infatuation
visited me mostly in my youth.
Those deep yearnings fed my soul
with the lyrics of melancholy love songs
that revolved on my record player’s
turntable as I, in my callow days,
lay in bed drowning in my fantasies
of unobtainable desires.

Cacoethes as cravings
found me also as the obsessions
that were literally fed me as food.
Too easily was I led 
by edible longings -
but I was not feeding real hunger.
Rather – I was hungering 
to feed an empty heart.

Eventually I learned to control
my cravings for the sweet and the salty,
and old longings of infatuation
long ago fled from me.
Any void I feel today
I fill with cacoethe substitutes
mostly harmless and rarely unhealthful
as I move my pen again and again
over paper.

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Christuraj Alex January 16, 2025 at 11:49 PM Cacoethes as infatuation, Cacoethes as cravings, cacoethe substitutes... A very beautiful writing. Congratulations!

Edward Ibeh January 16, 2025 at 8:08 PM Heartiest congratulations on your podium win in my contest with this beautiful poem, Andrea. I thoroughly enjoyed and relate to it.

Duke Beaufort January 13, 2025 at 8:24 AM Andrea, in addition to a new word for me (thank-you for that), this describes a mental journey. Cravings we feel as youth presents an interesting topic. OTOH can we can forgive ourselves for our lack of experience and look back fondly on that period? Sounds like you have, which is something not many people really do successfully. Reading this bring lots of smiles to my inner self. Hey, I know I am not alone in this type of reflection and can benefit from your words. Smiles!! Andrea Dietrich January 13, 2025 at 8:52 AM thanks, I overcame mine relatively young in life. Wishful thinking does nothing.

Karen Jones January 7, 2025 at 10:19 PM Relatable poem! I feel seen! Great job! Good luck in the contest! I think you nailed it Andrea! I did this one too but it pales lol

David Crandall January 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM Eloquent, interesting poem. Now older, embarrassingly, I still, though rarely, fall victim to infatuation, and though, not overweight, gorging and hurting my stomach. I too find writing poetry somewhat fulfilling. Maybe I'll try that next time cacoethes rears its head.

Paige Hind January 3, 2025 at 4:48 PM I am happy for you! :) <3

Suzanne Delaney January 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM Life is like a Hurricane and in the peace of the aftermath we are left with the lessons we’ve learn and find that humans are so much more full of kindness than we knew. Just wanted you to know we are OK and pulling through. Love, SuZ

Margaret Foster January 2, 2025 at 1:02 AM Who never looks back and sees the pitfalls we were lucky to avoid. Very well written Andrea good luck in the contest.

Valsa George January 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM So, your bodily infatuations of teenage and youth gave way to more fruitful and satisfying pursuits like writing poetry that today you have reached a top level poet. If you had yielded to those silly whims, life would have been different. Happy New Year, dear Andrea.

John Read January 1, 2025 at 7:22 AM Hi Andrea, we have all done something harmful in our lives, it's only as we grow older we realise our mistakes, wishing you a happy new year God bless. xx

Anne-Lise Andresen January 1, 2025 at 5:50 AM - Lovely written, Andrea :) - Happy New Year ... with lots of cheer :) - hugs

Sara Kendrick January 1, 2025 at 5:07 AM Strange things that happen in our youth that are lost along the way to more adult ways of handling life. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. If for a contest, it reads like a good contender to me. Way to go. Sara K, My computer is still moving very slowly but at least the posts are going through.

Mulu Magdalinos January 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM Dear , Andrea, as our life goes forwards, the transformation of our character is unavoidable. Have a Happy New Year.

Akham Nilabirdhwaja Singh December 31, 2024 at 8:30 PM How life changes with age very nicely expressed in the poem.Very well written.

Joseph P. DiMino December 31, 2024 at 3:49 PM Well said; wise advice. If only we knew then what we know now, as the saying goes. Youth is wasted on the young, another timeless one. Have a very Happy New Year my friend!

Evelyn Judy Buehler December 31, 2024 at 2:48 PM Andrea, I enjoyed this introspective poem, reflecting on the past and inner growth. Good luck in the contest. :)

Michael Tor December 31, 2024 at 1:55 PM Andrea I love your theme and how you share your infatuation with melancholy love songs and daydreaming desires. Best wishes for the Contest...