.

Coupled in Rhyme

She sees me better than I do,
so in her sight I strive to be
worthy to lie with, never to lie to.
She knows me better than my best,
brings comfort to my days, makes manifest
the loving balm of actuality;
in her calm embrace I long to belong.

She stands a standard in my heart
—love evergreen—a guaranty
engaging others, setting us apart
from those who talk but do not act:
for Love is a verb, not vague nor abstract,
a constant growing, a blossomy tree
sinewy delicate, gracefully strong.

.

.

Jonathan Kinsman’s book length poem, ‘Canso of California,’ won the 2006 James Irvine Award for the “Best Narrative Poem about California.” He was the first  Laureate to serve two counties simultaneously from 2012-2020. His commentary and poems appeared recently (Jan 2024) in the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics. He toils in the vineyards of the Lord, aka, 8th grade public school English classes in northern Sacramento Valley. 

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10 Responses

  2. Jonathan Kinsman

    Thank you, Colonel. It is part of our craft, I believe, to strive for fluidity and grace in the form we choose and the words we use. My muse of 50 years is my ultimate critic and Shoshana has approved this poem. Hah! I hope others notice the double meaning in the second stanza: she is my standard, by Brigade colors, and she sets a standard (always love and look to love) in my heart.

    Wisdom plays upon the fields of the Lord and Poetry should have all the play dates ! Thanks again, and Go Army, Beat Navy !!

    Reply
  3. C.B. Anderson

    Though this poet is not my kinsman, I feel a familial familiarity with what he is getting down to. Great stuff, one of the best I have read this year.

    Reply
  4. Jonathan Kinsman

    That is high praise, dear friend, coming from you.

    I remember ‘Yonder,’ one of my all time favorite poems with the ending line of “A place where fancied facts all fractures heal.”

    You hone a well-turned phrase, so I am truly thankful for the praise.

    Thank you CB for your wit and poetry!!

    Jonathan

    Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    A strong ending, Jonathan, is worth whatever labor or musing it takes, and you have one here. Your theme is twice expressed and doubly confirmed in pairs of contrasting words coupled to form that last line.

    Reply
  6. Jonathan Kinsman

    Thank you, Margaret. I hope it wasn’t too obvious (I try to be evocative vis-a-vis parallel meanings) with the Tree of Life in constant bloom and the descriptive of “I Am” with “Love is a verb…”. Your critical acumen is refreshing.

    Shoshana’s poems always elicit a “what else is going on here” comment from my bemused but insightful Muse! Hah! Now I have air support (you and CB) to back my operational excursions into reporting on the dual nature of Love and Faith,

    And keep pushing Cristina into the Canon!

    Jonathan

    Reply
  7. Daniel Kemper

    Yo Col K, sir!

    Of course I love a carefully woven bit of love poetry. Lots to say that’s probably already been said here or elsewhere, so I’m going to do a real word-nerd thing.

    The most fun in this poem for me was the irony in this line:

    “for Love is a verb, not vague nor abstract, where “love” is yet used as a noun, while being declared a verb, but… wait for it… so is “verb”! Which at the same time enforces the metatextual truth even as it denies it. And of course, if anything is paradoxical, it’s love, so, there you go!!

    There must be some sort of name for that, like a logical Stroop effect or something.

    Looking forward to more poems!

    Reply
    • Jonathan Kinsman

      As you were, soldier. Zero to the zero exponential can be seen as 0 or as 1. I prefer the one as is Deut. 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.”

      You know I was born in the South and raised on a small island in the South Pacific, but bear with me here fellow Teutonic-American.

      God identifies Himself as “I am.” God is Love. So Love is a verb. We are the mere nouns full of fluff and stuff.

      What I intended was a love poem to my overtly Christian wife of Jewish heritage (we will ignore the Texan in her!) and at the same time write a poem of the Bride of Christ: the Church. It may be a stretch, but I need the exercise.

      The irony is a free side with the Meal. And if anything is paradoxical, it is Kemper and Kinsman who spend their free moments delving into meter and rhyme and ideas and that exciting thing called POETRY.

      What better use of time than to read deep and ask and query and point out and recommend, Dear God, I love this site!

      Reply
  8. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    I simply love this smooth, beautiful, and playful poem that has set my heart aflutter. The title showcases the wonder of the words perfectly. Thank you, Jonathan.

    Reply
    • Jonathan Kinsman

      Thank you for professional kindness. I have always admired your playfulness with language and rhyme. In my lyrics and sonnets, I strive for the same effect.

      To me, a poet’s profession should be grounded in Beauty and Wisdom. And Love of course is the Prime Mover. I take inspiration from Proverbs 8:30-31

      Then was I beside Him as artisan;
      I was His delight day by day,
      playing before Him all the while,
      playing on the fields of the Lord
      having my delight with human beings.

      I see a lot of playfulness and wisdom in your poetry, Ms Bryant.

      You have a generous and loving heart! Thank you, ma’am.

      Jonathan

      Reply

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