Today’s prompt in The Daily Poet, by Kelli Russell Agodon and Martha Silano is one of the more interesting ones in the book. At first, it bugged me, but now I see it as having its own peculiar beauty. To mark the anniversary of the death of Gilda Radner, the idea is to think about her Emily Litella character, and write a poem that includes words or phrases that you have misheard. Unfortunately, they got their Gilda characters mixed up, and referenced Roseanne Roseannadanna (as Rosanna Rosanna Danna) instead. All very meta, as the kids might say.

Anyway, I chose instead to revisit an episode that began with me misunderstanding a conversation that took place in the next room…

I overheard the conversation in the next room
but I misheard the words
and came to the wrong conclusion

In my haze and confusion
came the kiss
I was so thirsty

The rest of the summer was a blur
of restaurants and late nights
and melancholy music

It couldn’t last
I was not prepared
for the places it was taking me

With distance
came clarity
and a definite end

Feelings lingered
but I knew it was right
It was never going to last

(20 May 2015)