John Anderson Poet Other

Notes About The Poem

This poem uses a new poetry form called The Counter Point Tree.
The counterpoints are arrayed as branches separated by the '<>' which symbolizes the trunk. The lines form pairs of branches. left and right, which address the same aspect of theme or topic. The first line in bold is the heading. The shape resembles a Tree.

Cheese -- Cringe

.                                          Cheese <> Cringe
                                Joins the dots  <> Scrubs the slate  
                            Invites the platter <> Lays smorgasbord 
                           Trusts the echoes <> Swats at the flies
                           Knows it's cheese <> Presents as caviar
                            Laughs with itself <> Groans at moans
                          Means every word <> Tries having it on
                        Softens into silence <> Hums through hush
                        Trusts the audience <> Counts on the nods
                        Carries an umbrella <> Blames rain clouds
                       Loves Swiss cheese <> Prefers old Jarlsberg 
                         Arrives a little early <> Makes bold entrance
                       Knows when to stop <> Can’t ever give it up
                      Risks some affection <> Insures for rejection
                       Content with a smile <> Wants standing ovation
                     Gaps between words <> Babbles endlessly on
                     Delights in the simple <> Over does it to death
                     Smiles before you do <> Waits for permission
                   Lets the jokes have air <> Explains the punchline
                   Speaks to the moment <> Speaks over the crowd
                  Welcomes an audience <> Counts the applause
                 Knows when it's smiling <> Says kimchi for a smile
               Wears heart on its sleeve <> Sobs in its own elbows
                 Doesn't fear the eye-roll <> Watches raised eyebrows
                 Leaves gaps for wonder <> Fills cracks with certainty
             Doesn't mind being uncool <> Shivers on cold shoulders
            Lets the conversation finish <> Finishes all your sentences
         Laughs well before it matters <> Waits until laugh-light is on
       Knows the holes make cheese <> Plugs every hole with a mirror
    Leaves before applause finishes <> Waits for one more curtain call
                                    Leaf sprouts <> Leaf drops
                                          Believes <> Deceives
                                           Flowers <> Weeds
                                           Cheese <> Cringe

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