Songs of Harmony/Songs of Discord

[Sentimental Gentleman]

Deeply poignant and brave, Gentleman.

Thank you, even if I don't feel that poem merits such accolades. A poem of mourning, even one which mixes in the tender sentiments of love as this one does, should be as unadorned as possible, I'm realizing, even if it works against its affective quality. Maybe that's a curious thought, but it's what I'm feeling now. Even if it's not a good poem, it's a rather true poem in this mode, and as such I should leave it alone for the most part. It's helping me by its existence, is what I'm saying, and to change it would be to admit it into a literary life to which it doesn't properly belong or derive its power from.