Performed by Val Cole

Intoxication

By Duane March

Ask me to describe my earnest fascination?

Ask me, might as well, pi's endless calculation,

Words do not suffice to offer explanation.

Her eyes gleam a golden brown,

Athena’s owls, soft as down,

Her hair is a mane of chesnut fire,

It tosses savage with lion's ire,

Or happy shakes, a foal without tether,

New with life and frisking in heather,

Her nose so cute, it makes me blush,

Her bronzen skin, my blood's rush!

But what delights me most of all?

What comes first to my recall?

Lumps my throat, tightens my chest?

Her matchless smile above the rest.

For when she smiles, her eyes twinkle,

Her mane shivers, her nose crinkles,

My heart leaps, I smile too,

Instantly a helpless fool,

I can offer no plainer explanation,

She is my pure intoxication.

Get to know the poet:

1) What is the theme of your poem?
It is a pretty straightforward love poem - a sonnet in essence although not in form.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?
Well, there was this woman that I helplessly fell for about 33 years ago (I wrote this poem in 1991) ... it did not turn out as I had hoped, but at least she did inspire this poem.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?
I am not a habitual poet, but occasionally I'm inspired.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?
That's a tough one because there are so many. Just off the cuff, I'll say the Roman politician, orator and philosopher Cicero.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?
I was just curious to see how it would turn out. I am also a voice actor. I have voiced / narrated a number of short art films by director Rossano B. Maniscalchi and have even won awards at festivals, so I was interested to see how another voice artist would interpret my poem.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?
I have written two self help books and have drafted a historical novel of Ancient Greece and a murder mystery "Murder on Mallorca" that I am still working on when the spirit moves me.
I also help edit video and voice for the short films I have narrated.

7) What is your passion in life?
History and Politics.