Definitions

Definitions

Break is a word
That kicks at the end,
With legs of a K
Severing ties,
Though it begins
With a buxom, promising B.

Break can be rest,
Pause measured by coffee,
Perhaps in class,
Perhaps at the office,
A siesta of sorts
As darkness drops in.

Break is a verb
Employed against horses,
Stomping spirits,
Rupturing traditions,
Punting friends,
Into dangerous orbits.

Mend is a word
That fixes the break,
That sets the bone,
That patches the hole.
Mend offers a hand
And does not let go.

How is the adverb,
How is the work.

Draft, Susan Thomsen 2025

*****

A month ago the Poetry Sisters offered a challenge for February: to create a "__ Is a Word" poem, a form invented by Nikki Grimes and shared by Michelle Barnes. (Thank you to Tanita S. Davis for the background.) The above, a very rough draft, is what I came up with. Should I keep the last two lines or set them free?

The Poetry Friday roundup for February 28th is at Denise Krebs' blog.

Image: Latin dictionary photo by Dr. Marcus Gossler, used under the license Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Comments

[Jane]

Isn't language fascinating - I love the way words can have so many forms, so many meanings. A word like break can be both positive and negative, depending on the context. Right now I could really use a break, to break away, before all the stress breaks my heart.

[Susan T.]

All the breakage! Thanks for reading, Jane.

[Rose Cappelli]

I like the way you juxtaposed break and mend. Very clever. And your title fits so well. I had fun with this exercise, too. As for your last two lines, I think I know what you are getting at, but focusing on break and mend feels more focused. It might be best to set them free.

[Susan T.]

Thanks, Rose. That helps!

[Tracey Kiff-Judson]

Wonderful, rich language and thought! I love that you paired break with mend at the end. It softens the landing and makes us feel like everything is going to be ok after all.

[Irene Latham]

I love the "How" lines at the end, Susan!

[Susan T.]

Tracey, thanks so much. I almost said, "Be the mend" at the end as a reminder to myself. Irene, ha! I appreciate the differing opinions. Back in 8th grade, I loved diagramming sentences, so writing about parts of speech and trying to tie everything together is a fun challenge. Oddly, the rhyming (or near rhyming) was inadvertent here, and if I work on the draft, it's something I'll have to contend with.

[Laura Purdie Salas]

Susan, this is fabulous! It's powerful, and I love that buxom B and kicking k. I also love how you have all the breaking and then the simple mend stanza. Well I really like the last two lines because they surprise me, for me they don't feel like they really belong in this poem. They feel like part of a different poem, maybe the next one you write?

[Linda Baie]

Love that you've made us think of this one word that seems to be a big part of our lives, in all ways, then the help, the 'mend', love that, too, a companion, Susan. I read that others are unsure of the end, yet it's rather a wrap up of the journey to me, lives happening!

[Tricia Stohr-Hunt]

Such wonderful images and language here! I especially like these lines that build.
Mend is a word
That fixes the break,
That sets the bone,
That patches the hole.

Thank you for sharing!

[tanita]

I had to laugh at B's bosomy comfort being a soft start to the wearying kicking and breaking. Maybe you only get to the splintering and then the mending of you've started from a good place.

I like the last two lines but they open what you're bringing to a close with the patiently held hard, giving courage for the mending that must go on. As Laura suggests, they feel like the springboard to another thought.

[Susan T.]

Oh, I love everyone's comments! Thank you so much, poetry friends. Maybe those last two lines are really a follow-up poem, maybe not. I'll have to let the tea steep a little longer and see. I did add them sort of last minute.

[PATRICIA FRANZ]

Ooh...keep those last two lines! I love that they leave room for the reader to think more about the word.

[Susan T.]

Thanks for weighing in, Patricia! I was hesitant to post this poem because of its rough-draftness, but I have really enjoyed the conversation.

[Denise Krebs]

Susan, that buxom promising B cracked me up. Your break as a verb stanza is powerful and sad. Then I loved that you follow up the breaks with a mend stanza. Lovely, fresh and healing.

[Carol Varsalona]

Susan, I do love the stanza focusing on mend. It has a great flow to it. The last two lines are a keeper. They ask the reader to ponder.

[Susan T.]

Carol and Denise, I'm glad you stopped by. That B almost needs a bra! Ha! One reason I'm grateful for Poetry Friday is that it turns into Poetry Weekend with all the fun offerings to read.

[Marcie Flinchum Atkins]

I love that the break is followed by a mend.

[Liz Garton Scanlon]

From break to break to mend. What lovely movement!

[Susan T.]

Marcie and Liz, the break called for a mend in this poem! I'm glad y'all stopped by to visit.

[Karen Edmisten]

Break, mend, and *how* we do these things. So well done and plenty to ponder, Susan. Loved this.

[Susan T.]

Thanks so much, Karen! While I will not be watching TV this evening (ahem, state of the union, ahem), I do have some calls to make!