Of all forms of communication, I sense that the non-verbal kind is the most telling. Whether it be body language or reading the signs of a person’s character or reputation, the clues are often difficult to ignore. I decided to take the prompt, ‘Reading Fiction’ in a direction away from words.
It’s not in the words I hear
It’s not in the tone I sense
Neither do I trust a forked tongue
…and yet
there’s force in those words
…but
they lack power and truth
I read the eyes that refuse to meet mine
I read insincerity bathed in deceptionI read habits and reputation
It’s not in the words I hear
(they’re pure fiction)
and I can read the signs loud and clear
©Vivian Zems
November 7, 2018 at 10:25 pm
Amazing poem.
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November 9, 2018 at 10:17 am
Thanks Sadje!
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November 9, 2018 at 10:40 am
You’re welcome.
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November 7, 2018 at 10:27 pm
h yes, this is so true. Especially the shift eyes. Great response to the prompt.
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November 9, 2018 at 10:17 am
Thanks, Sherry!
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November 7, 2018 at 11:43 pm
Excellent! I wish that a “poker face” was the closest the non-verbals come to fiction. Yet, you know that the best actors do this for a good purpose, and what can be done on stage can b done elsewhere! (Hamlet speaks to this.)
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November 9, 2018 at 10:15 am
A good point!
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November 8, 2018 at 1:18 am
I like your take on this prompt. But even pathological liars can fake the direct gaze, the sincere body language.
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November 9, 2018 at 10:15 am
Lol!
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November 8, 2018 at 1:31 am
How true as we can read so much from both people’s reactions and demeanour. The eyes are certainly tale tellers aren’t they?!
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November 9, 2018 at 10:15 am
Indeed!
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November 8, 2018 at 2:15 am
I like this kind of reading too 🙂
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November 9, 2018 at 10:14 am
Thanks, Sumana!
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November 8, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Fortunate are those who can read the signs that other people make. I can’t. As a result, I’ve been betrayed twice.
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November 9, 2018 at 10:14 am
Thankfully, there are still good people out there
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November 11, 2018 at 10:00 pm
I love this.
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November 11, 2018 at 11:42 pm
Thanks, Doc!
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November 12, 2018 at 7:19 am
You are welcome 😘. Been ages. Twas refreshing to read your poems again.👌
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November 12, 2018 at 8:48 am
:)…need to visit yours. Always a good thing to remember our old friends, abi?
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November 13, 2018 at 2:43 am
😀😀😀Always!
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November 14, 2018 at 6:42 pm
😊
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