‘This from that‘ can be interpreted thrice;
subtle ambiguity some might say.
Otherwise expressed, a poet’s device;
so that hairs might split, so that ends might fray.
‘From this that‘ a simple alteration
from the original text, an exchange
of order, a sequenced variation:
sleight of hand, write of passage, slightly strange,
rightly plausible; curious, obtuse.
That’s the poet’s ploy, that’s the poet’s choice.
‘From that this‘ offers another excuse
to alter meaning without change of voice.
. From that this… from this that … or … this from that?
. Noteworthy differences … or idle chat?

© Tim Grace, 10 October 2012

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To the reader: Variations on a theme. Subtle change. One of many interpretations. The Sciences love to monitor variation; noting change with mathematical precision. In the Arts, it’s through music that variations abound. The music industry cleverly exploits the human ear’s acuity by releasing different versions of the same song, or orchestral piece, for our listening pleasure… spot the difference.

To the poet: … another one of those puzzle poems. Word order is an important semantic tool. Sometimes it makes little difference to meaning; other times, a shift in placement can disorient the reader’s expectation. Used deliberately, a change of word order can be very effective in drawing attention to a point of difference.

 

 

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