avatarD Beasley

Summary

The text is a poetic reflection on a distant connection, where the speaker attempts to metaphorically bridge the gap between themselves and a person in Brazil through imaginative acts and the receipt of a worn letter from someone named Bruno.

Abstract

The poem "Panting, Through a Window" captures the essence of longing and the attempt to connect across vast distances. The speaker, separated by continents from someone in Brazil, struggles with an unreliable internet connection and instead turns to whimsical actions like throwing shoes to feel closer. The poem conveys a sense of intimacy through the receipt of a letter from Bruno, which has endured a journey as tumultuous as the emotions it represents. The speaker interacts with the letter, feeling the texture of its contents and the softness of down feathers that stick to their lips, symbolizing a deep, almost tangible connection despite the physical separation.

Opinions

  • The speaker views the unreliable connection as a barrier to communication, emphasizing the difficulty of maintaining a relationship over long distances.
  • There is a sense of playfulness and imagination in the speaker's attempt to throw their shoes towards the loved one's neighborhood, suggesting a desire for closeness through unconventional means.
  • The poem suggests a deep appreciation for physical correspondence, as evidenced by the detailed description of Bruno's letter and the emotional impact of its contents.
  • The repetition of "butternut rum" may imply a comforting or intoxicating presence, possibly associated with the memories or feelings evoked by the letter.
  • The speaker's interaction with the letter, including the tactile sensation of the feathers, indicates a longing for sensory experiences that transcend digital communication.

Panting, Through a Window

Poem

Wengang Zhai

I can’t tell you which window I’m looking in because you’re in Brazil and the connection can’t make up its mind but I’ll do my best to take off my shoes and throw them behind me if they’ll land closer to your neighborhood then I’ll have done something

did you hear them drop plop plop

how great, energies swarm around the house, tangle my hair, open the mail Bruno has written, Bruno has, Bruno Bruno, Dear Bruno has written words stuffed in an envelope seen many days, run over, bitten, and one end torn stuffing coming out, nuttily, down feathers stick to my lips, softer, softer still!

let me call you back smooch, smack

in the happening

butternut rum, butternut rum, butternut rum, butternut rum

Poetry
Poetry On Medium
Relationships
Life
Illumination
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