what was it?

Summary

The text is a contemplative reflection on the qualities of a woman that captivated someone's interest, contrasting them with the narrator's own experiences and feelings of unrequited love.

Abstract

The poem delves into the introspection of a narrator pondering over the allure of a woman who has caught someone's fancy. Through a series of rhetorical questions, the narrator compares the woman's free-spirited nature, her confidence in her body, and her effortless connection with the subject to their own insecurities and the subsequent emotional distance they maintained. The woman's tattoos, her youthful exuberance, and the intimate dreams she inspires are highlighted as potential reasons for her appeal. The narrator grapples with the contrast between her ease and their own difficulty in expressing emotions, leading to a sense of violent heartache and silent questioning. The poem concludes with the narrator acknowledging the unattainability of clear answers while confronting the pain of being overlooked and replaced.

Opinions

The narrator perceives the woman as embodying a carefree and adventurous spirit, which is attractive to the subject of the poem.
There is an underlying tone of regret and longing, as the narrator reflects on their own past actions and the emotional barriers they erected.
The poem suggests that the narrator feels overshadowed by the woman's ability to be open and giving, while they themselves were more reserved and less available.
The narrator seems to believe that the woman's physical appearance and demeanor played a significant role in her appeal, which is juxtaposed with their own unresolved feelings and silent suffering.
There is a sense

What Was It?

was it the tattoos? patchwork on her arms carelessly placed, impulsively done — but free-spirit, is what it screams

or was it the flaunting? her body, half-naked youth, says her body; slim-cut, and so soft to touch

was it the images flooding your dreams; how it’d feel to caress her inner-most seams?

or was it the way she’d given you a chance? more than I can say when I’d run away, at the first glance

was it the way she was easy, when all I’d been was a sore? was it the way she gave it all up, when I’d only left you yearning for more?

what was it, exactly, that made her your catch? what was it about her that made your heart attach?

answers I’ll never have — this hallway stays silent you’re on to the next, while my heart has grown violent

on either end, we lie — two opposing sides what was it, my love, that made you say goodbye?