Once one gets what one wants
one no longer wants it.
One no longer wants what?
One no longer wants what
one wanted.
-
A man and a woman want a woman and a man
or a man and a woman depending
on the man and the woman.
-
Once one gets what one wants once
one no longer wants it once
then one no longer wants it at all.
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Yes then no. Yes and no? No.
Yes then no then yes and always
after yes comes no. Never always
yes, but always no. Always know
after yes comes no.
-
One wants what one wants
not what one wanted.
- What is the mood of the speaker?
- What does the word echolalia mean? How might this relate to the poem?
- Repetition with variation is an important technique in music and poetry, but it is also a powerful tool in advertising. The speaker of the poem is very persuasive — are you persuaded?
- This poem is taken from Ian Williams’ book Personals, which plays with the form of personal ads. Do you think the voice of this poem is speaking from a position of vulnerability or strength?
- If you were reciting this poem, where would you pause to help communicate the sense of word play?
- Write a poem with a spare vocabulary that feels light but has a darker meaning. Use the language and phrasing of advertising to say something uncomfortable.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Ian Williams has his own website, blog, Twitter account — check it out:
Listen to Ian Williams read another poem from his book Personals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHJvsl6PylY
“Echolalia,” by Ian Williams. From Personals, copyright © 2012 Ian Williams. Reprinted with the permission of the author and Freehand Books.
Source: Personals (Freehand Books, 2012)