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Cacoethes

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

posted Dec. 31, 2025

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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.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 1/16/2025 11:49:00 PM
Cacoethes as infatuation, Cacoethes as cravings, cacoethe substitutes... A very beautiful writing. Congratulations!
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Date: 1/16/2025 8:08:00 PM
Heartiest congratulations on your podium win in my contest with this beautiful poem, Andrea. I thoroughly enjoyed and relate to it.
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Date: 1/13/2025 8:24:00 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!!
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 1/13/2025 8:52:00 AM
thanks, I overcame mine relatively young in life. Wishful thinking does nothing.
Date: 1/7/2025 10:19:00 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
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Date: 1/5/2025 8:34:00 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.
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Date: 1/3/2025 4:48:00 PM
I am happy for you! :) <3
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Date: 1/2/2025 3:14:00 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
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Date: 1/2/2025 1:02:00 AM
Who never looks back and sees the pitfalls we were lucky to avoid. Very well written Andrea good luck in the contest.
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Date: 1/1/2025 10:14:00 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.
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Date: 1/1/2025 7:22:00 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
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Date: 1/1/2025 5:50:00 AM
- Lovely written, Andrea :) - Happy New Year ... with lots of cheer :) - hugs
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Date: 1/1/2025 5:07:00 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.
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Date: 1/1/2025 1:50:00 AM
Dear , Andrea, as our life goes forwards, the transformation of our character is unavoidable. Have a Happy New Year.
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Date: 12/31/2024 8:30:00 PM
How life changes with age very nicely expressed in the poem.Very well written.
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Date: 12/31/2024 3:49:00 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!
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Date: 12/31/2024 2:48:00 PM
Andrea, I enjoyed this introspective poem, reflecting on the past and inner growth. Good luck in the contest. :)
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Date: 12/31/2024 1:55:00 PM
Andrea I love your theme and how you share your infatuation with melancholy love songs and daydreaming desires. Best wishes for the Contest...
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