Poetry Forum

Riffage

Blow it out
and what the hell
let's establish the nature
of our proximity.
Light in this vernacular
is not my default setting,
I'm looking to disconcert
and I'm guessing you like that.




.

Dante! Good to see you back.
This is a bit enigmatic. I like the last four lines. Actually I think it's mostly the first line that worries me a bit, as I can't grasp even what sort of thing is going to be described. Guess I'm disconcerted...

Ros

It reminds me of some of my early poems where I used a mix match mix of words that made complete sense to me, but no one else really understood.

I like it in a strange peculiar kind of way..and I mean that as a positive note..

Hi Dante

I've looked at this poem several times, mainly because of the title, and tend to agree with the other commentators, feeling that the abstractions are too obscure to penetrate. I checked riffage at dictionary.com to see if there was an alternative meaning because to me a riff' is a catchy series of guitar chords or notes. Dic'.Com confirmed this but I'm going to visit other dictionaries to see if I'm missing something.

I can't quite get a handle on this one and wonder if an image or two would help the reader to climb inside your head.

Best

JJ

Danté wrote:Riffage

Blow it out
and what the hell
let's establish the nature
of our proximity.
Light in this vernacular
is not my default setting,
I'm looking to disconcert
and I'm guessing you like that.




.

I've read and re-read this, it seems to be saying something important, but the meaning is beyond my grasp, perhaps it is the abstractions I can't earth; one line I find particularly opaque- 'light in this vernacular' .
Regards, C.

Here goes my take on the possible meaning.

Riffage

Blow it out (Possibly a candle)
and what the hell
let's establish the nature
of our proximity. (In the dark you may be your natural selves)
Light in this vernacular
is not my default setting, (you find it difficult to communicate when using your local/familiar language)
I'm looking to disconcert
and I'm guessing you like that. (The person you are speaking to prefer unsettling truths which may dwell in the dark. This truth may be that you get on?)

Not really sure if any of this is correct. I'm probably just limiting your meaning.

Thanks for a challenging read.

Best wishes,

Firebird

Dante - I liked this and enjoyed all the interpretations which poetry should make surface. Strangely enough, this reminded me of long ago words once said after a date in the hopes of a seductive night of delight. A " riff" was an oar used more for steering a barge than propelling it as used in the word 'riffraff'. If this was a poetic date, I can understand the steering and definitely understand the direction. I enjoyed this intriquing write. Namyh

Hi Dante,

I was going through some older posts, to see what I might have missed, and came upon this little enigma. I notice that you haven't replied to any of the comments posted, which is a shame as I would like to know what you intended the reader to get from this offering.

It seems vaguely threatening, sinister, sexual. I like it, especially the last 2 lines. I can imagine the rye smile and glint in the eyes while the protagonist says it to his willing victim. LOL.

Mark

I enjoyed reading, but spent a great deal of time considering the title.
For me, "riffage" evokes an association with music. Is there a tie to the dissonance in the poem itself? A thought-provoking title is always welcome.

Riffage - This is synonymous with farting for me.

Blow it out
and what the hell
let's establish the nature
of our proximity. Farting again - Are you comfortable enough to fart in front of each other?
Light in this vernacular
is not my default setting,
I'm looking to disconcert
and I'm guessing you like that. In the dark, at night, under the duvet - you're being naughty and delight in the disgust and laughter following your 'riffage'?

I might have got this all wrong and everybody will be appalled but, that is what it says to me. Being able to fart with someone, really means you are comfortable with them. It really shows the closeness 'proximity' of the relationship. No? OK, I'll get my coat. x

Katherine, that is brilliant. I think you've really come up trumps with that interpretation.

Can Katherine's interpretation be right? Surely not? I've never made that connection before. But it is a startling one.

And certainly this:

k-j wrote:I think you've really come up trumps with that interpretation.

is brilliant.

Katherine wrote:Riffage - This is synonymous with farting for me.

Or maybe a posh version of 'roughage'.

When I first read it, my thoughts were similar to Ros': I was intrigued but a bit confused.

But Katherine's interpretation, rather disconcertingly, makes sense. So much so, in fact, that I can't think of it in any other way now.

Interesting piece.

Cheers
peter

Yes brilliant and probably right-it's so obvious now-there is a West Yorks dialect word 'rift' meaning to fart, perhaps may also exist in the NE in K's/and Viz's part of the world, if not she's a genius at interpretation.
C.

I’m really going to be persona non grata with Dante, if this is not what s/he meant!
Cynwulf, I prefer ‘genius’ to ‘fat slag’! x

I haven't seen Dante around here for ages, but I think you may be on to something, Katherine. Your idea fits all to well!

Ros

Just to tie it in to my Alighieri poem, Dante has left the building.