14 Comments
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Chris Rauber's avatar

I'm not sure I understand Nine-Pass Erasure entirely, but love the sound of it.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

It means I wrote an erasure poem (a poem written by erasing parts of an existing poem) and needed nine passes through that text to arrive at the one I posted here.

Janie Braverman's avatar

A NINE pass erasure - I'm in awe!!

Well done, you!

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thanks, Janie. I've done nine passes before, but not more than nine, as I recall.

Janie Braverman's avatar

I think one of us is going to have to take it up to an even dozen.

Hmm ... just need to find the right material.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Or any material. It's like what Quentin Crisp said when he spoke about the advantages of not dusting. "The trick is not to lose your nerve."

Janie Braverman's avatar

Well, ok, then. It appears that the material is on my desk. Somewhere. Ah, I think I see it ... over there on my left.

Thanks for the inspiration and, as always, for hanging out with me in the comments.

Margaret Ann Silver's avatar

Beautiful.

X. P. Callahan's avatar

Thank you, Margaret Ann.

The Sea in Me's avatar

'the cruel mouth

of beauty

a translation

of unblinking night'

Cathy Wickham's avatar

Haunting. Congratulations on the nine passes! Thank you.

Alexis R Kane's avatar

Damn, this is a brilliant haunting gem. I may have said that before. But this one!! And with the photo. Perfection, yes that keeps echoing.

Victoria Nordgren's avatar

The source poem is also 🔥

Mary Holscher's avatar

Beautiful!