I've been there from the beginning
grit in the oyster
in Eden - like an apple seed
caught in a throat
caught between desire and desiring
an insatiable  yearn 
intangible

And so must sentients
with their lightness of being*
append me somewhere.
Cast Titania fashion 
over the first eye opening
an Adam, an Eve
an ass-head, opiates,
wheel spin,  coin toss

Frantic as the butterfly chase
unnetted, against the itch
that incurable infection
of my infectiousness.
And these the tell-tale signs: 
   obsessives
   moon sick mopers
   love struck lyricists
   crazed scribblers 
   poets, belletrists, diarists
till ink runs dry and words 
pitch into dusk.

Only a young one, on the cusp
staring into the night
with nothing on but wondering
is immune
sensing the pearl of peace
past all understanding

28 thoughts on “Limerence”

1. The image of the frantic butterfly speaks volumes! Stunning response to the prompt, Laura 💜💜

   1. chasing the elusive – thank you Sanaa
      p.s. I had a bet with myself that you would choose this one too but you surprised me!

      1. Everyone but Sanaa chose that word… 🙂

         1. ha ha

      2. 🥂💜💜💜

2. I have a feeling limerence is going to be a popular choice, Laura, as is petrichor, but that’s the fun of it, seeing all the different poems inspired by the same word. I love the direction in which the word has led you, especially the oyster metaphor and the apple seed simile, so evocative. The second stanza has a stunning mix of Shakespeare and the Bible – where better to find limerence and the groups of:
   ‘obsessives
   moon sick mopers
   love struck lyricists
   crazed scribblers
   poets, belletrists, diarists’.

   1. Limerence we can all relate too – it stood out for me and took me all over the place in this poem – thank you for the prompt

      1. You’re more than welcome, Laura.

3. I love the beginning of the poem being caught between desiring and desire…
   I think maybe the state of limerance is better than falling for the temptation… we need tension.

   1. tension cannot last too long – it demands action like the elastic of limerence stretched taut!

4. Wonderful articulation of the phenomena, Laura:

   “Always a frantic butterfly chase
   unnetted, against the itch
   that incurable infection
   of my infectiousness.”

   1. thanks Lisa -potted some limerence there 😉

      1. You’re welcome. My new nickname for you: The Gardener of Limerence 🙂

         1. that’s catchy too 🙂

            1. 🙂

5. The imagery is fabulous and the words chosen are perfect 💞

   1. many thanks

6. Love the grit in the oyster and the apple seed caught in a throat. The imagery got me right away.
   I have not read that one by Kundera, but Life Is Elsewhere had me totally observed. Perhaps I may read it again.❤️

   1. *absorbed, not observed. I think my phone hates me.🤦🏻‍♀️😂

   2. and I may yet read Life is Elsewhere – thank you for your feedback

      1. or has an understanding that Life is Elsewhere is perforce, one we observe rather than live!

      2. You’re welcome.❤️

7. There are so many wonderful lines here. You’ve captured the word so perfectly. As a side note, my daughter’s band during her Girls Rock camp this summer named their band Limerence. I’d never heard the word before then and now I’ve seen it twice. Is this a sign? 🙂

   1. thank you for your encouraging feedback Bridgette
      p.s. what a creative name for a girl band – edgy too!

8. Always a frantic butterfly chase

   Your clever, beautiful imagery is delightful, Laura ❤

   ~David

   1. am so heartened by your appreciation David – thank you ❤

9. Love that third stanza, Laura!

   1. thank you – ending on an up note!

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