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Jed Moffitt's avatar

Hey Sam, I was particularly captured by the technicolor ride through the middle of the poem that saw clearly the sensory deluge. Almost reveled in it. I am interested in your categorization of self 1 and self 2. Do those feel real or ephemeral. Is integration on your mind or even desired. Is the "who am I" question really perturbing you or is it more just another idle curiosity in the stream of events?

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samuel forbes's avatar

Thanks so much, Jed. 🙂 For me, self 1 and self 2 feel very real…that said, they also feel like they’re on a spectrum, and maybe as I mature as a writer they will find a happy middle ground, a merging point. Who knows 🤔 And I suppose that all comes back to the “who am I?” question — what do I write about, how do I write it, why does it matter — I assume these will remain mysteries for at least a few more decades. Ha!

Deeply grateful for your thoughtful reading and feedback!

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Elena's avatar

This is a gorgeous poem!!

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samuel forbes's avatar

A million thanks, Elena, grateful for your read 😊

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Jeremy Marks's avatar

Wonderful poem, Samuel. I really enjoyed it.

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samuel forbes's avatar

Many thanks, Jeremy. I’ve been really enjoying reading your work as well, so the compliment means a lot 🙂

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Jeremy Marks's avatar

Thank you. Likewise! 😊🙏

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La Semeuse's avatar

The black-booted man with a syrupy sax tapping along with the hive, now isn’t that fine

Such depth of image and somehow harboring both the music and despairing mundanity. My better days hear his music.

Thank you for the fantastic gift of your poetry.

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samuel forbes's avatar

He’s always there! Tapping away…sometimes it’s the notes you don’t play 😁

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Sara Khayat's avatar

You’re one of my favorite poets on here! Do you have a book? Sorry if the post says something about that my attention span only allows me to read the poems. I never read forwards in books 😬

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samuel forbes's avatar

Ah, I’m so flattered to hear this — thank you, Sara! I don’t have a book, but if I can keep writing for the next few months and start to see some common threads emerge, I may compile my work into one. 🤠

Totally feel you on the attention span thing, lol. I typically like to share my poems without preface, but occasionally I think the newsletter-ly thing to do is say a few words. 😂

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Sara Khayat's avatar

Sweet! Let me know if you end up publishing one I’d buy it for sure.

And I feel you about the newsletter-y-ness haha

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School of Blue's avatar

Every time I go back to this, I see something new.

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School of Blue's avatar

Wow, man. What a glorious ride. Brilliant stuff.

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samuel forbes's avatar

Really appreciate it, and thank you for sharing.🤠 It was a wild ride for me, too — ha!

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Ann Collins's avatar

"starved for beauty, i gorge myself on stimuli"

Samuel, we're all starving. Thank you for this nourishing poem.

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samuel forbes's avatar

What kind words — thank you for the encouragement, Ann. It’s an honor to have you reading. ✨

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jared mulhair's avatar

damn. loving Version 2 🙌🏽🌘

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samuel forbes's avatar

Ayy, thanks friend. :) V2 rarely had room to breathe on Twitter, but I’m trying something new on Substack. Really appreciate your support! ⚡️

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jared mulhair's avatar

love it. working toward a rawer space myself but still a bit stuck and stagnant. this is inspiration — keep going my friend!

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samuel forbes's avatar

I stared at a blank word doc for like 3 hours before writing this one, and the phrase “slink out of my skin” kept coming to mind, so eventually I just gave in and went with it 😂 may the stagnation give way to flow soon!

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the wilderness's avatar

God I love this poem & the name is incredible

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samuel forbes's avatar

Thank you kindly 🤠 it means a ton that you’d take the time to read and share!!

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Jan 28
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samuel forbes's avatar

How kind of you, thank you A. B. — really glad it resonated with you and appreciate the encouragement 😁

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