How Lovely Wetness Makes the Flesh
In the summer of 2009, I read the poem "How Lovely Wetness Makes the Flesh"¹ by the famous American playwright and screenwriter Tennessee Williams².
I chanced upon the poem in a paper copy of Harper's Magazine. There was an editor's note below the poem that was very much part of the experience, too. You can read the poem, and the editor's note, here: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+Lovely+Wetness+Makes+the+Flesh.-a0189832875.
Reading the poem and the note created a distinctive sort of positive reaction in my mind. It's my favorite poem of all time.
The reaction it created reminds me of something from a short film titled "Why Details Matter," by the video artist Van Neistat³. You can watch the film here (8-minutes, open in a new tab): link.
In the film, Neistat talks about his tendency to fixate on details: using exactly the right brand of pencil, the temperature of his art studio, and so on. I wasn't fixated on details myself, but I resonated with his resolution to his concern about being fixated on details.
The resolution comes when Neistat shares his concern with his romantic partner and seeks her opinion:³
So, this spirited man sought counsel and reconciliation from a spirited woman, from his domestic partner, baby mama, main squeeze, common law wife — a spirited woman who's tasked with pulling the slack when he's succumbed to this detail or that.
"These details matter to me to such an extent," he explained, "that I'm willing to endure any consequences as a result of having committed to these ridiculous details, and it feels like I can't help it."
And her reply — offhanded, and gentle, and light, and truthful — ignited within this spirited man an epiphany: a moment of sudden revelation or insight.
And what the spirited woman — this spirited man's domestic partner, baby mama, main squeeze, common law wife — said was this: she said simply, "I love that about you."
Sources:
¹: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/How+Lovely+Wetness+Makes+the+Flesh.-a0189832875
²: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Williams
³: “Why Details Matter”, by Van Neistat